NEXT was launched with the vision of creating a legacy of environmental and educational excellence for the benefit of future generations of Aotearoa New Zealanders.

We started by running two annual application processes, seeking the best ideas from around the country. We then funded the highest potential ideas, worked alongside those entities towards ambitious targets, and are proud to have now supported 17 organisations - all 'for purpose' (a phase we like better than 'not for profit'), all with the potential to be catalysts for system change, all with inspirational leaders.

To read more, download the PDF below. Please note the file size of the PDF is more than 2Mb.

One in 15 New Zealand teachers
have upskilled in technology through
a NEXT sponsored postgraduate programme run by The Mind Lab.
The 4000 primary and secondary teachers have graduated
with a Postgraduate Certificate in Digital
and Collaborative learning. The Mind Lab Founder
Frances Valintine says it makes teaching the
leading sector in NZ for reskilling in technology.
read more

One in 15 New Zealand teachers
have upskilled in technology through
a NEXT sponsored postgraduate programme run by The Mind Lab.
The 4000 primary and secondary teachers have graduated
with a Postgraduate Certificate in Digital
and Collaborative learning. The Mind Lab Founder
Frances Valintine says it makes teaching the
leading sector in NZ for reskilling in technology.

Iconic environmentalist Dir David Attenborough has
given New Zealand’s ambitious plans to become
Predator Free the the thumbs up - telling our
Prime Minister Jacinda Arden that the “knees
of rats shake when New Zealand is near.” read more

Iconic environmentalist Dir David Attenborough has
given New Zealand’s ambitious plans to become
Predator Free the the thumbs up - telling our
Prime Minister Jacinda Arden that the “knees
of rats shake when New Zealand is near.”

What does the wrybill - an endangered NZ bird with a wonky bill - have to do with saving NZ’s biodiversity? Former Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Jan Wright explains why - and talks about her new conservation challenge in this edition of NEXT Outlook. read more

What does the wrybill - an endangered NZ bird with a wonky bill - have to do with saving NZ’s biodiversity? Former Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Dr Jan Wright explains why - and talks about her new conservation challenge in this edition of NEXT Outlook.

Dr Wright’ has a new role chairing Te Manahuna Aoraki, a project restoring the biodiversity in the Upper Mackenzie Basin /Aoraki Mount Cook National Park that is a collaboration between DOC, iwi, private landowners and philanthropists - including NEXT.

Business success is a relative term. It may mean you’ve built a
business, helped build a business, or done very well in the business
you work in – to the point where personal comfort and security are no
longer an issue. What else, you might wonder. read more

Business success is a relative term. It may mean you’ve built a
business, helped build a business, or done very well in the business
you work in – to the point where personal comfort and security are no
longer an issue. What else, you might wonder.

NEXT Foundation is one of the investors
in the Te Manahuna Aoraki conservation
project - which will eliminate pests and
predators from the Upper McKenzie Basin
and Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. The
project covers an area three times the size of Auckland
and will help protect the biodiversity of some of
New Zealand’s most stunning landscape and
threatened birds. read more

NEXT Foundation is one of the investors
in the Te Manahuna Aoraki conservation
project - which will eliminate pests and
predators from the Upper McKenzie Basin
and Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. The
project covers an area three times the size of Auckland
and will help protect the biodiversity of some of
New Zealand’s most stunning landscape and
threatened birds.

NEXT is excited to announce a new environmental investment - we are founding partners in a collaboration restoring the biodiversity in the Upper McKenzie basin and Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, announced today. read more

NEXT is excited to announce a new environmental investment - we are founding partners in a collaboration restoring the biodiversity in the Upper McKenzie basin and Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, announced today.

Te Manahuna Aoraki brings together Government, iwi, philanthropy and private land owners to the 310,000 hectare project - home to some of New Zealand’s most stunning landscape and threatened wildlife.

NEXT CEO Bill Kermode said it is a further extension in the portfolio of large landscape scale biodiversity projects NEXT invests in - with collaboration with private landowners and new partners being critical parts of that.

NEXT environmental initiative Project Janszoon - which
is restoring the biodiversity in the Abel Tasman National
Park- came in for special attention this week when A list
royals Prince Harry and his new wife Meghan visited the
Park. read more

NEXT environmental initiative Project Janszoon - which
is restoring the biodiversity in the Abel Tasman National
Park- came in for special attention this week when A list
royals Prince Harry and his new wife Meghan visited the
Park.

“Right now we have got a unique opportunity
with the child wellbeing framework review
and the review of early learning to get talk high on the
agenda - we want recognition for it centrality early in
life.” Talking Matters director Alison Sutton explains the
case for more investment in talking with babies in the first
1000 days of life, in this NEXT Outlook presentation.
read more

“Right now we have got a unique opportunity
with the child wellbeing framework review
and the review of early learning to get talk high on the
agenda - we want recognition for it centrality early in
life.” Talking Matters director Alison Sutton explains the
case for more investment in talking with babies in the first
1000 days of life, in this NEXT Outlook presentation.

New research
shows babies babble can be an indicator
of how good a reader they will become. TVOne news reports
on the findings- and
NEXT education initiative Talking Matters
backs it up - saying babies are “born
to communicate”.
read more

New research
shows babies babble can be an indicator
of how good a reader they will become. TVOne news reports
on the findings- and
NEXT education initiative Talking Matters
backs it up - saying babies are “born
to communicate”.

Wellington city is on a mission to become the first
Predator Free City in the world - and no rat is safe-
not even in student flats! A group called Traplordz
has been formed to tackle the rats in students flats-
as this report in Stuff explains. read more

Wellington city is on a mission to become the first
Predator Free City in the world - and no rat is safe-
not even in student flats! A group called Traplordz
has been formed to tackle the rats in students flats-
as this report in Stuff explains.

Philanthropy plays a crucial part in improving New Zealand society, with private funds stepping in to ease the country’s shortfalls. But what entices people to give away large chunks of their money, and how is the sector evolving? read more

Philanthropy plays a crucial part in improving New Zealand society, with private funds stepping in to ease the country’s shortfalls. But what entices people to give away large chunks of their money, and how is the sector evolving?

One hundred Kauri seedlings - from the
iconic Colin McCahon House, have a new home
on NEXT environmental initiative Rotoroa Island.
The seedlings have been planted on the island to
try and save them from the deadly disease Kauri dieback. read more

One hundred Kauri seedlings - from the
iconic Colin McCahon House, have a new home
on NEXT environmental initiative Rotoroa Island.
The seedlings have been planted on the island to
try and save them from the deadly disease Kauri dieback.

They are particularly treasured because they come
from the trees featured in many of McCahon’s famous
paintings. Newshub filed this report.

“Of all the proposals we’ve seen Wellington is the strongest in terms of community at work,” NEXT advisor and Predator Free 2050 Limited spokesman Rob Fenwick commenting on the $3.2m boost for Predator Free Wellington announced this week. The New Zealand Herald reports on the mission for Wellington to become the first Predator Free capital in the world.
read more

“Of all the proposals we’ve seen Wellington is the strongest in terms of community at work,” NEXT advisor and Predator Free 2050 Limited spokesman Rob Fenwick commenting on the $3.2m boost for Predator Free Wellington announced this week. The New Zealand Herald reports on the mission for Wellington to become the first Predator Free capital in the world.

Predator Free Wellington’s vision to be
the first capital city in the world to be
Predator Free got a boost this week -
to the tune of $3.2million.
Predator Free NZ 2050 Ltd announced
the financial support to the initiative
founded two years ago by NEXT, the
Wellington City Council and the Greater
Wellington Regional Council. read more

Predator Free Wellington’s vision to be
the first capital city in the world to be
Predator Free got a boost this week -
to the tune of $3.2million.
Predator Free NZ 2050 Ltd announced
the financial support to the initiative
founded two years ago by NEXT, the
Wellington City Council and the Greater
Wellington Regional Council.

Media release

Wellington to become world’s first predator free capital city
Major funding announced today from Predator Free 2050 Limited brings Wellington a step closer to becoming the world’s first predator free capital city.

Speaking at the funding announcement event, Ed Chignell, CEO Predator Free 2050 Limited said he would love for Wellingtonians to have a city free of possums, rats and stoats where birds like kākā, kārearea, kererū – and ultimately kiwi – can flourish.

“This is not a pipedream, the $3.275 million of funding Predator Free Wellington and Capital Kiwi jointly receive over the five years means the world’s first predator free Capital is within reach,” Mr Chignell said.

Predator Free Wellington and Capital Kiwi are the charitable entities behind this bold vision. Ed Chignell said they are just the third regional project to receive funding.

Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council are both significant funders in Predator Free Wellington, alongside philanthropic organisation NEXT Foundation.

Chris Laidlaw, Chair, Greater Wellington Regional Council said: “We’ve already proven we can do this, we eradicated possums from the Miramar peninsula in 2006. This additional funding from Predator Free 2050 Limited allows us to take the next big step and prove we can scale up predator eradication across the whole of Wellington.

“Miramar Peninsula will be the first area to really target full scale predator eradication. Backyard trapping is the first hit, helping to get the numbers down. Next year we’ll rollout intensive operations, which will take a real bite out of predator numbers and put us in a much better position to achieve our ultimate goal of eradication,” Cr Laidlaw said.

“From there we spread the success formula into Island Bay and the city, and in successive waves north to Porirua” said Cr Laidlaw.

Strategic philanthropic foundation, NEXT sees this project as a blueprint for other New Zealand cities. Bill Kermode, CEO, NEXT Foundation said we know these plans are ambitious but we need big goals, big vision to make big change.

“What is remarkable about Predator Free Wellington is not just the scale of what is being proposed, but the fact that the project is centred in a major city where people work, live and play every day. Wellington is leading the way with urban predator eradication,” said Mr Kermode.

Wellington Mayor, Justin Lester said the Wellington people have strongly indicated, through the long-term plan process, they want a predator-free Wellington

“It is a movement that has been growing for 20 plus years, thanks to the platform provided by Wellington’s pioneering trappers.

“Wellingtonians want to see this happen, we have thousands of households already involved, across 43 of Wellington’s 57 suburbs, backed up by more than 120 community groups.

“A predator-free Wellington will support the continued flourishing of other native species now present in Wellington City, including kākā, tieke, kārearea, kākāriki and little penguin.

“It will also allow for the translocation of kiwi to Wellington and other locally extinct species into the predator free environment,” said Mayor Lester.

Along with the Predator Free 2050 Limited Funding, Capital Kiwi’s vision of bringing kiwi back to Wellington has been kick-started by a foundational donation from the Wellington Community Trust.

Roger Palairet, Wellington Community Trust Chairperson said: “What a wonderful legacy we would be creating, to know that one day people would hear kiwi in their backyards.

Predator Free Wellington and Capital Kiwi are one of the first projects supported by Predator Free 2050 Limited, a 100% government-owned charitable company. This partnership will help supercharge the eradication efforts and support the longer term outcomes for Wellington residents to embrace the change and help the city reach its nature restoration goals.

Two Burnside Primary teachers who have
developed an innovative oral language
programme to help new entrants have been named winners
of The Education Hub’s Bright Spots Awards,
for innovative teaching practice. The Star
has filed this report on the winners - the awards are
funded by NEXT. read more

Two Burnside Primary teachers who have
developed an innovative oral language
programme to help new entrants have been named winners
of The Education Hub’s Bright Spots Awards,
for innovative teaching practice. The Star
has filed this report on the winners - the awards are
funded by NEXT.

The Education Hub has announced Mount
Aspiring College teacher Chris Waugh has
won one of its Bright Spots Awards for innovative
teaching practice. The Wanaka Sun reports
on the details of the award - which NEXT funds. read more

The Education Hub has announced Mount
Aspiring College teacher Chris Waugh has
won one of its Bright Spots Awards for innovative
teaching practice. The Wanaka Sun reports
on the details of the award - which NEXT funds.

A group of school children from Omaha
School west of New Plymouth are playing
detectives to help the Taranaki Mounga project. They are
trawling through hours of video footage to help
locate where the predators are - so the
Taranaki Mounga team know where
to target their trapping efforts. read more

A group of school children from Omaha
School west of New Plymouth are playing
detectives to help the Taranaki Mounga project. They are
trawling through hours of video footage to help
locate where the predators are - so the
Taranaki Mounga team know where
to target their trapping efforts.

Gisborne Boys High School Head of
Science Darcy Fawcett has been named
one of the winners of The Education Hub’s
Bright Spots Awards. Darcy has developed
a data interpretation tool to determine if teachers improvements
in practice are effective. The Awards are funded by NEXT. read more

Gisborne Boys High School Head of
Science Darcy Fawcett has been named
one of the winners of The Education Hub’s
Bright Spots Awards. Darcy has developed
a data interpretation tool to determine if teachers improvements
in practice are effective. The Awards are funded by NEXT.

A group of teachers from Tauhara College
in Taupo have won one of The Education Hub’s inaugural
Brights Spots Awards - for an innovative teaching
programme promoting STEM subjects at the Maori girls
college. NEXT is funding the awards. read more

A group of teachers from Tauhara College
in Taupo have won one of The Education Hub’s inaugural
Brights Spots Awards - for an innovative teaching
programme promoting STEM subjects at the Maori girls
college. NEXT is funding the awards.

A group of Taupo teachers developing a programme to encourage young Māori women to enrol in STEM subjects and a Christchurch primary school designing an oral language programme for new entrants are among the winners of The Education Hub’s inaugural Bright Spots Awards, funded by NEXT Foundation, announced today. read more

A group of Taupo teachers developing a programme to encourage young Māori women to enrol in STEM subjects and a Christchurch primary school designing an oral language programme for new entrants are among the winners of The Education Hub’s inaugural Bright Spots Awards, funded by NEXT Foundation, announced today.

NEXT Foundation has released a new
video highlighting its education investments.
NEXT currently invests in nine initiatives supporting
projects in the first 1000 days of life; teacher excellence
and leadership in education. read more

NEXT Foundation has released a new
video highlighting its education investments.
NEXT currently invests in nine initiatives supporting
projects in the first 1000 days of life; teacher excellence
and leadership in education.

Philanthropy, arts, science and technology - Kea has published it’s full list
of winners of the 2018 World Class NZ awards - where NEXT founders
Neal and Annette Plowman took out the Supreme Award. read more

Philanthropy, arts, science and technology - Kea has published it’s full list
of winners of the 2018 World Class NZ awards - where NEXT founders
Neal and Annette Plowman took out the Supreme Award.

NEXT founders Neal and Annette Plowman have been
announced 2018 Kea World Class New Zealand Supreme
Award winners. The award acknowledges their outstanding
contribution to New Zealand through their philanthropy. read more

NEXT founders Neal and Annette Plowman have been
announced 2018 Kea World Class New Zealand Supreme
Award winners. The award acknowledges their outstanding
contribution to New Zealand through their philanthropy.

NEXT founders Neal and Annette Plowman have
suggested other wealthy New Zealanders consider gifting fifty per cent of their
wealth - in their acceptance speech at the Kea World
Class New Zealand awards. read more

NEXT founders Neal and Annette Plowman have
suggested other wealthy New Zealanders consider gifting fifty per cent of their
wealth - in their acceptance speech at the Kea World
Class New Zealand awards.

NEXT Founding Chair Chris Liddell, CEO Bill Kermode, the Board and the Plowman family
have paid tribute to NEXT founders Neal and Annette Plowman, upon the announcement
they are joint recipients of the 2018 Kea World Class New Zealand Supreme Award. read more

NEXT Founding Chair Chris Liddell, CEO Bill Kermode, the Board and the Plowman family
have paid tribute to NEXT founders Neal and Annette Plowman, upon the announcement
they are joint recipients of the 2018 Kea World Class New Zealand Supreme Award.

NEXT supported Cacophony Project
reports on some interesting data around the effectiveness of various
backyard traps, and how many predators they are
seeing around a trap for every one caught. read more

NEXT supported Cacophony Project
reports on some interesting data around the effectiveness of various
backyard traps, and how many predators they are
seeing around a trap for every one caught.

Wilderness magazine reports on the latest
innovations from NEXT supported Zero Invasive
Predators, and how they are applying new
tools and techniques to eradicating
predators from a test site in Perth
Valley, Westland. read more

Wilderness magazine reports on the latest
innovations from NEXT supported Zero Invasive
Predators, and how they are applying new
tools and techniques to eradicating
predators from a test site in Perth
Valley, Westland.

“It’s a privilege to be able to support
teachers who want to better prepare our
future generations of New Zealanders -
there’s no more impactful place to invest in
education,” NEXT CEO Bill Kermode reflects
on the foundation’s investment in upskilling
teachers in technology through The Mind Lab. read more

“It’s a privilege to be able to support
teachers who want to better prepare our
future generations of New Zealanders -
there’s no more impactful place to invest in
education,” NEXT CEO Bill Kermode reflects
on the foundation’s investment in upskilling
teachers in technology through The Mind Lab.

The Cacophony Project is the “Let’s rip
up the script/ use Kiwi No 8 fencing wire ingenuity
to solve a wick problem” approach to New
Zealand becoming Predator Free - according
to this report in Stuff NZ. read more

The Cacophony Project is the “Let’s rip
up the script/ use Kiwi No 8 fencing wire ingenuity
to solve a wick problem” approach to New
Zealand becoming Predator Free - according
to this report in Stuff NZ.

A large-scale predator project, the biggest of its kind in New Zealand, was launched in Taranaki today supported by more than $11 million from the Government.
Taranaki aims to be the first predator-free region in the country under the project, called Taranaki Taku Tūranga - Our Place, Towards a Predator-Free Taranaki and is led by the Taranaki Regional Council.
It is the first large-scale project to receive funding from Predator Free 2050 Ltd, the company set up by the Government in 2016 to help New Zealand achieve its predator-fee 2050 goal. read more

A large-scale predator project, the biggest of its kind in New Zealand, was launched in Taranaki today supported by more than $11 million from the Government.
Taranaki aims to be the first predator-free region in the country under the project, called Taranaki Taku Tūranga - Our Place, Towards a Predator-Free Taranaki and is led by the Taranaki Regional Council.
It is the first large-scale project to receive funding from Predator Free 2050 Ltd, the company set up by the Government in 2016 to help New Zealand achieve its predator-fee 2050 goal.

The $11.7 million of funding support over five years was announced today by Conservation Minister, Hon Eugenie Sage.
Towards a Predator-Free Taranaki will cost $47 million in the first five years with the ultimate aim of removing stoats, rats, and possums from all land types across the region – farmland, urban land, public parks, reserves and Mt Taranaki - by 2050. It is the first time this has been attempted in New Zealand, and the latest technology and trapping techniques will used, with lessons shared, helping New Zealand achieve its predator-free aspiration.

TRC Chairman David MacLeod says strong community support will be vital to succeed and he’s confident Taranaki people will get behind it.
“This is a massive opportunity for the region and for New Zealand. The support from Predator Free 2050 Ltd enables our region to protect and enhance native wildlife and plants, building on existing predator-control work, “he says.

Remote sensors, wireless nodes and a trapping app will be among IOT (Internet of Things) technology used to remove predators and prevent re-infestations. The high-tech equipment makes trapping more efficient, particularly in rural areas, and provides live trapping data – sending a smartphone alert to the user when a trap goes off. Data will also be collated about how, where and when predators are caught, helping the Council identify clusters and tweak the trapping network.

A virtual barrier, made up of natural barriers, traps and remote sensors, will prevent re-infestations and will be moved across the region as predators are removed from each area. The region will be divided into pizza-slice sections and different phases of work will be rolled out around the mountain, starting in the New Plymouth area, Oakura and the Kaitake Range.

“Taranaki has unique advantages that can make it the first region in the country to remove introduced predators – its relatively compact geography, its regional and national expertise in biodiversity and predator control, and strong community collaboration and enthusiasm at all levels,” Mr MacLeod says.

The project will link with successful predator work in Egmont National Park by Taranaki Mounga Project, which has already reduced predators to low levels and allowed the reintroduction of several species including the North Island robin (toutouwai) and blue duck (whio).

The project will also build on existing work in urban and rural areas, including the Council’s voluntary urban possum control programme in New Plymouth, and its rural Self-Help Possum Programme, one of the biggest programmes of its kind in the country which is keeping possum numbers at low levels.

Predator Free 2050 Ltd Chief Executive Ed Chignell is excited about the opportunities to advance the rest of the country’s predator work using lessons learnt from Towards a Predator-Free Taranaki.
“I’m thrilled to support Towards a Predator-Free Taranaki. This exciting project is uniting a community against predators, using traditional and new methods to remove possums, rats and stoats from the region. A project of this size and covering all land types has never been attempted before and the lessons learnt will be shared with the country, advancing New Zealand’s predator-free 2050 goal,” Mr Chignell says.

“The Taranaki Regional Council is a leader in biosecurity and biodiversity and I’m convinced the people behind this project have the experience and expertise to succeed and contribute to New Zealand’s predator-free aspirations.”

Towards a Predator-Free Taranaki will rely on collaboration between TRC, the region’s three district councils, residents, Taranaki Mounga Project and the region’s biodiversity coalition, Wild for Taranaki.
“This project is taking Taranaki forward and its success is in the hands of the people of the region. We’ll be reaching out to schools, community groups, farmers and residents in different areas in the coming months as we enter new phases of the project,” Mr MacLeod says.

NEXT supported initiative Zero
Invasive Predators is collaborating
with PFNZ 2050 Ltd to undertake a big
challenge on the mainland. The team is about
to start a project removing possums from
the Perth Valley - forever. If it is successful
it could be a game changer towards a Predator Free New Zealand. read more

NEXT supported initiative Zero
Invasive Predators is collaborating
with PFNZ 2050 Ltd to undertake a big
challenge on the mainland. The team is about
to start a project removing possums from
the Perth Valley - forever. If it is successful
it could be a game changer towards a Predator Free New Zealand.

NEXT champion Frank Janssen has been awarded the Plowman medal for his
generous contribution to NEXT’s education
investments. Thank you Frank for your valuable
insights - straight talking - and your philosophy
of giving back. read more

NEXT champion Frank Janssen has been awarded the Plowman medal for his
generous contribution to NEXT’s education
investments. Thank you Frank for your valuable
insights - straight talking - and your philosophy
of giving back.

Have you heard what’s going on in Wellington?
It’s a sound that is music to the ears of NEXT
Predator Free Community Champion Kelvin Hastie-
the Crofton Downs resident who was a catalyst for a
burgeoning backyard trapping network - and the
inspiration for Predator Free Wellington. read more

Have you heard what’s going on in Wellington?
It’s a sound that is music to the ears of NEXT
Predator Free Community Champion Kelvin Hastie-
the Crofton Downs resident who was a catalyst for a
burgeoning backyard trapping network - and the
inspiration for Predator Free Wellington.

NEXT looks
at Kelvin’s three year journey - and what he- and the people of Wellington- have achieved.

NEXT Foundation is celebrating four years since its launch in 2014 – and now supports sixteen environmental and education initiatives.
read more

NEXT Foundation is celebrating four years since its launch in 2014 – and now supports sixteen environmental and education initiatives.

Thirteen of those investments have been made since the foundation’s inception – and three are continuing support for projects started before NEXT’s launch.

“The projects we are supporting are all transformational initiatives that we believe can be catalysts for system change within New Zealand” NEXT CEO Bill Kermode said. “We are impressed with their innovation and leadership, and the bold vision they each have for change in their space.”

Mr Kermode said each investment is for multiple years, and NEXT supported all organisations both financially and non-financially.

“With this resource allocation in mind NEXT has decided to not schedule any further application (EOI) processes – and rather continue our focus on supporting the positive impact these existing projects can have – to ensure they are sustainable, robust, and transformational. We may still proactively seek out new investements.”

“The Bright Spots Awards are another opportunity for us to support examples of excellence in practice in New Zealand education. We are delighted to be able to partner with The Education Hub in them,” NEXT CEO Bill Kermode commenting on the new awards for teacher innovation, supported by NEXT. read more

“The Bright Spots Awards are another opportunity for us to support examples of excellence in practice in New Zealand education. We are delighted to be able to partner with The Education Hub in them,” NEXT CEO Bill Kermode commenting on the new awards for teacher innovation, supported by NEXT.

Department of Conservation rangers and their conservation dogs
Tai and Marti have been conducting their own census - counting
endangered whio ducklings at the NEXT supported environmental
initiative Taranaki Mounga. read more

Department of Conservation rangers and their conservation dogs
Tai and Marti have been conducting their own census - counting
endangered whio ducklings at the NEXT supported environmental
initiative Taranaki Mounga.

The Taranaki Mounga project has produced
this video on their efforts as part of whio awareness month.

“This investment is about NZ children - research shows teachers have the biggest impact
on improving a child’s educational outcomes.” NEXT CEO Bill Kermode announces a new NEXT education investment in The Education Hub.
The Hub is a resource for teachers connecting educational research and teaching practice.
read more

“This investment is about NZ children - research shows teachers have the biggest impact
on improving a child’s educational outcomes.” NEXT CEO Bill Kermode announces a new NEXT education investment in The Education Hub.
The Hub is a resource for teachers connecting educational research and teaching practice.

The Mind Lab by Unitec has launched a new
education platform today to enable teachers to develop the skills and understanding to
deliver the new digital technologies curriculum. NEXT is supporting the new
Digital Passport initiative as a natural progression from its investment in sponsoring
teachers to undertake The Mind Lab’s postgraduate technology qualification.
read more

The Mind Lab by Unitec has launched a new
education platform today to enable teachers to develop the skills and understanding to
deliver the new digital technologies curriculum. NEXT is supporting the new
Digital Passport initiative as a natural progression from its investment in sponsoring
teachers to undertake The Mind Lab’s postgraduate technology qualification.

Forty-five university graduates and career changers have begun a new profession this year -
teaching at some of New Zealand’s lowest income communities. They are the Teach First NZ:
Ako Mātātupu 2018 cohort - a NEXT supported initiative addressing inequality in our
education system. read more

Forty-five university graduates and career changers have begun a new profession this year -
teaching at some of New Zealand’s lowest income communities. They are the Teach First NZ:
Ako Mātātupu 2018 cohort - a NEXT supported initiative addressing inequality in our
education system.

This year Teach First NZ Ako Mātātupu has collaborated with another NEXT supported initiative The Mind Lab by Untiec to deliver the initial teacher education qualification.

A new predator control project is in the pipeline which
could be significant in New Zealand’s ambitous goal to
be Predator Free by 2050. NEXT supported Zero Invasive
Predators is planning an intensive operation near Whataroa - where
the Perth River could act as a natural barrier to keep predators
out - forever.
read more

A new predator control project is in the pipeline which
could be significant in New Zealand’s ambitous goal to
be Predator Free by 2050. NEXT supported Zero Invasive
Predators is planning an intensive operation near Whataroa - where
the Perth River could act as a natural barrier to keep predators
out - forever.

'The benign neglect of Māori and Pacific Island children
in our education system is a disgrace. The Manaiakalani
digital education programme for low income earners is a triumph-
it is liberating these children who have been ignored too long.”
Pat Snedden MNZM Chair of Manaiakalani Trust speaking at NEXT Outlook.

'The benign neglect of Māori and Pacific Island children
in our education system is a disgrace. The Manaiakalani
digital education programme for low income earners is a triumph-
it is liberating these children who have been ignored too long.”
Pat Snedden MNZM Chair of Manaiakalani Trust speaking at NEXT Outlook.

Tai has been successfully sniffing out whio in Taranaki. He is one of the first Conservation Dogs certified to locate whio in the region and has helped to locate a record number of 64 whio chicks on eight rivers this season. read more

Tai has been successfully sniffing out whio in Taranaki. He is one of the first Conservation Dogs certified to locate whio in the region and has helped to locate a record number of 64 whio chicks on eight rivers this season.

More than 500 primary and
intermediate schoolchildren from
low decile Manaiakalani schools have
been blogging over the holidays under
the NEXT supported Summer Learning
Journey. Seven Sharp journalist Michael Holland caught
up with two girls from St Pius X school in
Auckland to check out what the programme and
the “summer slump” is all
about.
read more

More than 500 primary and
intermediate schoolchildren from
low decile Manaiakalani schools have
been blogging over the holidays under
the NEXT supported Summer Learning
Journey. Seven Sharp journalist Michael Holland caught
up with two girls from St Pius X school in
Auckland to check out what the programme and
the “summer slump” is all
about.

“The Tomorrow Accord has emerged as a
blueprint for private/public conservation that
is … probably here to stay”. Wilderness
magazine reports on the groundbreaking
agreement between the Government and
NEXT Foundation to ensure environmental
gains are guaranteed by future governments.
read more

“The Tomorrow Accord has emerged as a
blueprint for private/public conservation that
is … probably here to stay”. Wilderness
magazine reports on the groundbreaking
agreement between the Government and
NEXT Foundation to ensure environmental
gains are guaranteed by future governments.

“I learnt classical music so I could get out of study and hide in the music rooms…” Mike Chunn - friend of NEXT, music mentor and Play it Strange Trust CEO
takes us back to where his passion for music began - how Split Enz was born -
and how NEXT and his music charity are travelling side by side
for a better New Zealand.
read more

“I learnt classical music so I could get out of study and hide in the music rooms…” Mike Chunn - friend of NEXT, music mentor and Play it Strange Trust CEO
takes us back to where his passion for music began - how Split Enz was born -
and how NEXT and his music charity are travelling side by side
for a better New Zealand.

NEXT is privileged to have a partnership with Play it Strange, where we
have access to the music of the talented secondary school students the
charity supports.

“Students who didn’t practice
or flex their literary muscles over summer experienced a
loss of literary fitness that took lots of hard work
and training to regain ..” Dr Rachel Williams, from the
NEXT supported initiative Summer Learning Journey,
in an article for Newsroom.
read more

“Students who didn’t practice
or flex their literary muscles over summer experienced a
loss of literary fitness that took lots of hard work
and training to regain ..” Dr Rachel Williams, from the
NEXT supported initiative Summer Learning Journey,
in an article for Newsroom.

The NZ Government has granted the iconic
Taranaki mountain a “legal personality.” The Chairman of
the NEXT supported Taranaki Mounga project; and Chief negotiator
for the Taranaki iwi Jamie Tuuta has described it as “significant to
Maori people nationwide.”
read more

The NZ Government has granted the iconic
Taranaki mountain a “legal personality.” The Chairman of
the NEXT supported Taranaki Mounga project; and Chief negotiator
for the Taranaki iwi Jamie Tuuta has described it as “significant to
Maori people nationwide.”

Project Janszoon - a NEXT environmental
initiative is celebrating its fifth anniversary.
The project is a collaboration between the
Department of Conservation; The Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust
iwi and community to restore the Abel Tasman National
Park. read more

Project Janszoon - a NEXT environmental
initiative is celebrating its fifth anniversary.
The project is a collaboration between the
Department of Conservation; The Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust
iwi and community to restore the Abel Tasman National
Park.

For our final newsletter of 2017 we bring you the wisdom of the wonderful
leaders in education and the environment that NEXT supports. We asked them for a short quote or anecdotal story that resonates with them. Enjoy the read -
have a safe and happy festive season and we look forward to connecting with
you again in 2018.
read more

For our final newsletter of 2017 we bring you the wisdom of the wonderful
leaders in education and the environment that NEXT supports. We asked them for a short quote or anecdotal story that resonates with them. Enjoy the read -
have a safe and happy festive season and we look forward to connecting with
you again in 2018.

"Often the arteries of government policy fail to be implemented within the capillaries of the community . . . ” a blog from NEXT CEO Bill Kermode following a recent visit to US philanthropic organisations. read more

"Often the arteries of government policy fail to be implemented within the capillaries of the community . . . ” a blog from NEXT CEO Bill Kermode following a recent visit to US philanthropic organisations.

"Summer Learning Journey is an excellent example of a well structured education innovation with robust evidence and a scalable model,” - NEXT CEO Bill Kermode in the NZ Herald, in a report about NEXT’s latest education investment.
read more

"Summer Learning Journey is an excellent example of a well structured education innovation with robust evidence and a scalable model,” - NEXT CEO Bill Kermode in the NZ Herald, in a report about NEXT’s latest education investment.

A blogging programme for school children – to help them maintain academic grades over the summer holidays – is to expand significantly with support from NEXT Foundation.
read more

A blogging programme for school children – to help them maintain academic grades over the summer holidays – is to expand significantly with support from NEXT Foundation.

The Summer Learning Journey has been developed through a partnership with Manaiakalani teachers and the Woolf Fisher Research Centre at the University of Auckland to counter the “Summer Slump” – where school students can lose a year or more of their academic progress in writing when they break for the six-week summer holiday. It takes months for that slide to be recovered.

Summer Learning Journey helps students maintain literary grades so they start the new school year with the skills motivation and attitude to accelerate their learning from day one of the new school year.

NEXT Foundation CEO Bill Kermode said NEXT is delighted to fund the expansion of the programme. It has been trialled in Tamaki Manaiakalani schools over the past two summers, and will be expanded to nearly 50 schools in Manaiakalani clusters around the country for the next two years.

“Summer Learning Journey is an excellent example of a well structured education innovation with robust evidence and a scalable model” says NEXT CEO Bill Kermode.

“It has had a significant impact on students’ writing performance in the holiday periods, and there are signs of other benefits too, not least the students’ confidence, their work ethic and their aspirations. NEXT is thrilled to support the roll out of Summer Learning Journey to more schools around the country.”

The programme has been developed by Manaiakalani teachers and Dr Rachel Williams and colleagues through the Woolf Fisher Research Centre at the University of Auckland. It is also supported by the MSA Charitable Trust. The expansion will allow six Manaiakalani clusters to partake in the programme across 50 schools – covering 1400 summer bloggers.

Dr Willams says she is overjoyed when she sees the effects the blogging has on the children’s learning and literacy.

“It is something I feel really compelled to do for our students, many of whom do not have access to learning opportunities over summer. It is incredibly humbling and really exciting to see the degree to which students are engaging with the programme and with each other online during the holiday.”

And she says teachers notice the difference in students when schools start again in February.

“They can tell who was a Summer Learning student and who wasn’t. They can just tell in a sea of 30 students who has taken up the challenge over summer.”

To view Daniel’s story, the story of the Summer Learning Journey (three minutes duration) click here

About NEXT Foundation

NEXT is a strategic philanthropic foundation launched three and a half years ago. NEXT is investing $100 million over 10 years to build a legacy of environmental and educational excellence for the benefit of future generations of New Zealanders.

Taranaki Mounga is gradually
being brought back to life - He Kawa Ora.
The NEXT supported project is large scale and ambitious -
but all parts of the community are collaborating
to slowly turn the vision
into reality.
read more

Taranaki Mounga is gradually
being brought back to life - He Kawa Ora.
The NEXT supported project is large scale and ambitious -
but all parts of the community are collaborating
to slowly turn the vision
into reality.

The NEXT supported environmental
initiative The Cacophony Project has
made significant gains in developing
heat cameras to help detect predators -
an effective tool in the ambitous
goal towards Predator Free NZ 2050.
read more

The NEXT supported environmental
initiative The Cacophony Project has
made significant gains in developing
heat cameras to help detect predators -
an effective tool in the ambitous
goal towards Predator Free NZ 2050.

Conservationists are celebrating
at NEXT supported environmental
initiative Taranaki Mounga after
three Toutouwai/North Island robin
breeding pairs were discovered with chicks.
It is the first time the species has
bred on the Mounga for 112 years.
read more

Conservationists are celebrating
at NEXT supported environmental
initiative Taranaki Mounga after
three Toutouwai/North Island robin
breeding pairs were discovered with chicks.
It is the first time the species has
bred on the Mounga for 112 years.

NEXT supported environmental
initiative ZIP has had some great
success in a predator eradication
trial in South Westland.
The aim was to rid the area completely
of rats and possums using a modified
method of aerial predator control.
The results could mean toxins like 1080
may only need to be used once if areas
can be defended from reinvasion. read more

NEXT supported environmental
initiative ZIP has had some great
success in a predator eradication
trial in South Westland.
The aim was to rid the area completely
of rats and possums using a modified
method of aerial predator control.
The results could mean toxins like 1080
may only need to be used once if areas
can be defended from reinvasion.

Check out the results and a video
on the trial in this report from ZIP.

NEXT Foundation has announced it is investing in an educational support programme for new parents and their babies – SPACE. SPACE for you and your baby is a programme run through early childhood education and community organisations offering parent education, parent support and community connectedness. NEXT is funding its expansion over the next few years as it integrates with another family support network, Parenting Place. read more

NEXT Foundation has announced it is investing in an educational support programme for new parents and their babies – SPACE. SPACE for you and your baby is a programme run through early childhood education and community organisations offering parent education, parent support and community connectedness. NEXT is funding its expansion over the next few years as it integrates with another family support network, Parenting Place.

NEXT CEO Bill Kermode says NEXT is delighted to support the growth of SPACE as part of the foundation’s commitment to invest in the first 1,000 days of a baby’s life.

"The first 1,000 days is one of our key investment areas in education, because of the research showing the relative impact investment at this stage has. SPACE delivers an outstanding support programme that sets parents and their babies up for this critical time of life."

More than 6,000 new families already attend SPACE each year – started by a group of Wellingtonians 14 years ago who noticed a lack of support for new parents. One of its founders Leanne Dawson says she welcomes the investment, integration and expansion.

“SPACE is passionate about building a future where quality postnatal support is an expected, integral part of the important transition to parenthood in New Zealand. With modern society constantly evolving, bringing new pressures to the parent-child dynamic, and the community, and furthermore knowing how critically important the early years are, we believe parents are truly worth investing in.

“It is with great excitement that we embark on this collaborative journey with Parenting Place, with significant support from NEXT Foundation and the Tindall Foundation to grow SPACE to reach more families and continue to build strong foundations for parents, children and the community,” she said.

Parenting Place CEO Greg Fleming also welcomed the investment.

“The shared heart of SPACE and Parenting Place is to inspire and equip every whānau to thrive in their relationships. By bringing our two works together we will be able to reach thousands more families, and support parents from the very beginning of their parenting journeys. We are enormously grateful to the NEXT and Tindall foundations for bringing this dream to life.”

SPACE is the second investment for NEXT in the first 1,000 days. It is also seed funding Talking Matters, promoting the importance of rich language in the early years.

NEXT is a strategic philanthropic foundation launched three and a half years ago. NEXT is investing $100 million over 10 years to build a legacy of environmental and educational excellence for the benefit of future generations of New Zealanders. For more information please visit our website - www.nextfoundation.org.nz

NEXT is privileged to have the support of
PwC as part of our vision to make New Zealand
a better place for our land and our people.
As part of our relationship PwC seconds one of their
best to be a NEXT Young Leader for 6-9
months.This year we have enjoyed the support
of Alex McKay - who has passed the baton this
week to his successor Jacob Weaver. read more

NEXT is privileged to have the support of
PwC as part of our vision to make New Zealand
a better place for our land and our people.
As part of our relationship PwC seconds one of their
best to be a NEXT Young Leader for 6-9
months.This year we have enjoyed the support
of Alex McKay - who has passed the baton this
week to his successor Jacob Weaver.

Here’s Alex’s thoughts on his time as PwC NEXT
Young Leader - Alex, we wish you the very best
for the future.

“If any country can pull off an eradication blitzkrieg
New Zealand can..” International recognition for
New Zealand’s ambitious Predator free 2050 goal
in an article in bioGraphic, part of the California
Academy of Science. bioGraphic spent time with
the team at Zero Invasive Predators - a NEXT
supported environmental initiative as part of its
report.
read more

“If any country can pull off an eradication blitzkrieg
New Zealand can..” International recognition for
New Zealand’s ambitious Predator free 2050 goal
in an article in bioGraphic, part of the California
Academy of Science. bioGraphic spent time with
the team at Zero Invasive Predators - a NEXT
supported environmental initiative as part of its
report.

NEXT environmental initiative Rotoroa
Island has been praised by visiting filmmaker
and conservationist Philippe Cousteau as being
at “the vanguard of conservation”.
Cousteau - grandson of environmental icon
Jacques Cousteau - was visiting the island
to film a programme for Xploration Station. read more

NEXT environmental initiative Rotoroa
Island has been praised by visiting filmmaker
and conservationist Philippe Cousteau as being
at “the vanguard of conservation”.
Cousteau - grandson of environmental icon
Jacques Cousteau - was visiting the island
to film a programme for Xploration Station.

Rotoroa Island is a Predator Free Wildlife Sanctuary
and Conservation Park in the Hauraki Gulf, operating under
a unique partnership between Auckland Zoo and the Rotoroa
Island Trust. The efforts to restore the biodiversity to the island
caught Cousteau’s attention.

The NEXT supported education initiative
Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru was recently
selected as a finalist for the prestigious
Rotorua Westpac Business Excellence Awards. read more

The NEXT supported education initiative
Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru was recently
selected as a finalist for the prestigious
Rotorua Westpac Business Excellence Awards.

The Rotorua district-wide initiative brings together the best of teacher practice coupled with an appropriate future focused learning pedagogy with the endorsement and support from parents, caregivers, community, business and iwi.
Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru is currently engaged with 42 schools, 10 Te Arawa iwi/hapū, 8 community groups and a number of reputable technology partners.

NPeW has recently released this video telling the story of the collaborative journey to make Rotoroa a great place to learn.

In this newsletter - The Cacophony Project reveals developments with a high resolution heat camera to better detect predators. It’s part of its mission to bring information technology into predator management. read more

In this newsletter - The Cacophony Project reveals developments with a high resolution heat camera to better detect predators. It’s part of its mission to bring information technology into predator management.

Naturalist and environmental advocate Ruud Kleinpaste talks to NewstalkZB about how collaboration is the key for a Predator Free NZ. NEXT Predator Free Community Champion Kelvin Hastie and the Wellington City Predator Free Project come in for special mention. read more

Naturalist and environmental advocate Ruud Kleinpaste talks to NewstalkZB about how collaboration is the key for a Predator Free NZ. NEXT Predator Free Community Champion Kelvin Hastie and the Wellington City Predator Free Project come in for special mention.

Taranaki Mounga and Taranaki Kiwi Trust have teamed
up to give kiwis released onto the Mounga a better
chance of survival.
As this video shows, some of the kiwis released onto the Mounga this month have been fitted with transmitters
for better protection. read more

Taranaki Mounga and Taranaki Kiwi Trust have teamed
up to give kiwis released onto the Mounga a better
chance of survival.
As this video shows, some of the kiwis released onto the Mounga this month have been fitted with transmitters
for better protection.

The release is part of the wider vision to bring Taranaki Mounga -He Kawa Ora - Back to Life.
Iwi, business, philanthropy, government and community are collaborating to bring back the
biodiversity to the Mounga.

One of the education initiatives NEXT
Invests in - Springboard Trust - is celebrating its 10th birthday.
Springboard offers strategic leadership advice to school principals and in the video below its Chairman Ian Narev outlines its success over the past decade.
read more

One of the education initiatives NEXT
Invests in - Springboard Trust - is celebrating its 10th birthday.
Springboard offers strategic leadership advice to school principals and in the video below its Chairman Ian Narev outlines its success over the past decade.

New innovations in possum trapping,
rat detection and new prescriptions for
1080 are highlighted in the ZIP annual
report published this week.
NEXT invests in ZIP - which
is at the forefront of developing new technology
to assist with the challenge of New Zealand
being Predator Free by 2050.
read more

New innovations in possum trapping,
rat detection and new prescriptions for
1080 are highlighted in the ZIP annual
report published this week.
NEXT invests in ZIP - which
is at the forefront of developing new technology
to assist with the challenge of New Zealand
being Predator Free by 2050.

The endangered takahē - once thought to
be extinct, has now reached a population of 300.
Radio NZ reports on the history and recovery efforts
of this unique species.
NEXT’s environmental initiative Rotoroa Island is home
to a breeding pair of takahē and a chick as part of an innovative
conservation programme between DOC, Auckland Zoo and Rotoroa Island.
read more

The endangered takahē - once thought to
be extinct, has now reached a population of 300.
Radio NZ reports on the history and recovery efforts
of this unique species.
NEXT’s environmental initiative Rotoroa Island is home
to a breeding pair of takahē and a chick as part of an innovative
conservation programme between DOC, Auckland Zoo and Rotoroa Island.

Sandy Bornholdt from Mt Manganui’s Te Kura o Matapihi has been recognised as the country’s top digital teacher, winning the prestigious NEXT Expert Teacher Award at The Mind Lab by Unitec’s graduation in Auckland last week. read more

Sandy Bornholdt from Mt Manganui’s Te Kura o Matapihi has been recognised as the country’s top digital teacher, winning the prestigious NEXT Expert Teacher Award at The Mind Lab by Unitec’s graduation in Auckland last week.

“He waka eke noa.. we are all in this together. We need help, let’s paddle the waka together.." Jamie Tuuta, Maori Trustee, CEO Te Tumu Paeroa, Chair Taranaki Mounga, on kaupapa Maori iwi and philanthropy, shares his insights into Maoridom today; philanthropy - and how iwi and philanthropists can work together for a better New Zealand. His presentation is part of our NEXT Outlook series, profiling thought leaders in education, the environment and philanthropy. read more

“He waka eke noa.. we are all in this together. We need help, let’s paddle the waka together.." Jamie Tuuta, Maori Trustee, CEO Te Tumu Paeroa, Chair Taranaki Mounga, on kaupapa Maori iwi and philanthropy, shares his insights into Maoridom today; philanthropy - and how iwi and philanthropists can work together for a better New Zealand. His presentation is part of our NEXT Outlook series, profiling thought leaders in education, the environment and philanthropy.

Technology is helping parents realise the benefits of richer language with babies
in their first 1000 days - the New Zealand Herald report on the device being
trialled by NEXT education initiative Talking Matters.
read more

Technology is helping parents realise the benefits of richer language with babies
in their first 1000 days - the New Zealand Herald report on the device being
trialled by NEXT education initiative Talking Matters.

In the NEXT September Newsletter we highlight our education investment in the First 1000 days
with an opinion piece from the Children’s Commissioner; and some technology trials in Talking Matters.
We also bring you an environmental update from Project Janszoon and introduce some young Canterbury songwriters
in our Meet the Musicians series. read more

In the NEXT September Newsletter we highlight our education investment in the First 1000 days
with an opinion piece from the Children’s Commissioner; and some technology trials in Talking Matters.
We also bring you an environmental update from Project Janszoon and introduce some young Canterbury songwriters
in our Meet the Musicians series.

Play it Strange songwriters Troy Scott and Katie Miller found music therapeutic during the trauma of the Christchurch earthquakes. In this Meet the Musicians profile,they discuss what songwriting means to them - and the story behind their single “Turn to Me” which they kindly allow NEXT to use on our video about education initiative The Springboard Trust. read more

Play it Strange songwriters Troy Scott and Katie Miller found music therapeutic during the trauma of the Christchurch earthquakes. In this Meet the Musicians profile,they discuss what songwriting means to them - and the story behind their single “Turn to Me” which they kindly allow NEXT to use on our video about education initiative The Springboard Trust.

The NEXT supported initiative to establish Wellington as the first
Predator Free capital city in the world is gaining momentum.
This Predator Free Wellington newsletter updates information
on the project - including progress on the Miramar Peninsula.
read more

The NEXT supported initiative to establish Wellington as the first
Predator Free capital city in the world is gaining momentum.
This Predator Free Wellington newsletter updates information
on the project - including progress on the Miramar Peninsula.

Could technology help tune parents into the importance of rich communication with their babies in their first 1000 days?
Talking Matters, a NEXT early years(0-3) education initiative has been testing cutting edge technology with a group of parents - as a tool for promoting richer language.
read more

Could technology help tune parents into the importance of rich communication with their babies in their first 1000 days?
Talking Matters, a NEXT early years(0-3) education initiative has been testing cutting edge technology with a group of parents - as a tool for promoting richer language.

All roads lead to the very early years of a child’s life
… says New Zealand’s Children’s Commissioner
Judge Andrew Becroft.
So … what areas does he believe New Zealand
should be focusing on to improve the outcomes
of our children? read more

All roads lead to the very early years of a child’s life
… says New Zealand’s Children’s Commissioner
Judge Andrew Becroft.
So … what areas does he believe New Zealand
should be focusing on to improve the outcomes
of our children?

Judge Becroft outlined his thoughts as guest speaker
at a recent NEXT Outlook breakfast in Wellington - titled
“It’s all won or lost by the fifth birthday”.

To understand Judge Becroft’s costume changes - view the full
version of his presentation.

New Zealand is one year into its mission of becoming Predator Free by 2050. The Department of Conservation reflects on what's happened in the 12 months - including updates on NEXT initiatives Taranaki Mounga, Project Janszoon, NEXT Predator Free Community Champion Kelvin Hastie, The Cacophony Project and Zero Invasive Predators.
read more

New Zealand is one year into its mission of becoming Predator Free by 2050. The Department of Conservation reflects on what's happened in the 12 months - including updates on NEXT initiatives Taranaki Mounga, Project Janszoon, NEXT Predator Free Community Champion Kelvin Hastie, The Cacophony Project and Zero Invasive Predators.

Friend of NEXT Chris Simcock has been awarded a fellowship in the inaugural cohort from the Edmund Hillary Foundation.
Chris explains his new direction and how NEXT foundation influenced a career move….
read more

Friend of NEXT Chris Simcock has been awarded a fellowship in the inaugural cohort from the Edmund Hillary Foundation.
Chris explains his new direction and how NEXT foundation influenced a career move….

In the NEXT July update … we bring you a new sixty second video This is NEXT ; news on an investment in The Cacophony Project; a story on the return of absent residents on Taranaki Mounga; and a profile on one of our musician friends from Play it Strange. read more

In the NEXT July update … we bring you a new sixty second video This is NEXT ; news on an investment in The Cacophony Project; a story on the return of absent residents on Taranaki Mounga; and a profile on one of our musician friends from Play it Strange.

A desire to improve the genetic diversity of kaka released into the Abel Tasman National Park has seen the launch of a northern South Island kaka captive breeding programme.
read more

A desire to improve the genetic diversity of kaka released into the Abel Tasman National Park has seen the launch of a northern South Island kaka captive breeding programme.

The programme, run by Project Janszoon and the Department of Conservation (DOC), reached a milestone on 10 July 2017 with three male kaka introduced to four females at Nelson’s Natureland Wildlife Trust in the hope they will form breeding pairs.

Could sound lures and artificial intelligence be key tools in New Zealand becoming Predator Free? NEXT Foundation and Zero Invasive Predators is delighted to announce it is investing in the Cacophony Project - a research and development open sourced initiative using information technology in conservation.
read more

Could sound lures and artificial intelligence be key tools in New Zealand becoming Predator Free? NEXT Foundation and Zero Invasive Predators is delighted to announce it is investing in the Cacophony Project - a research and development open sourced initiative using information technology in conservation.

NEXT CEO Bill Kermode welcomed
the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s report on Saving New Zealand’s Birds released today. read more

NEXT CEO Bill Kermode welcomed
the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s report on Saving New Zealand’s Birds released today.

“The report’s title - Taonga of an island nation – appropriately highlights the importance of our native birdlife to who we are as a nation” he said.
“We’re delighted that the Commissioner has detailed so clearly the desperate situation, and the opportunities to address it. The report’s recommendations are specific, ambitious and right on the mark.”

“At NEXT we are committed to playing our part in saving our birds, and this report provides great encouragement to continue to develop and expand the initiatives we are involved in.”

NEXT environmental initiative the Rotoroa Island Trust has farewelled its Chairman Barrie Brown.
Barrie has stepped down after a decade at the helm - and oversaw the transition from being
a former Salvation Army drug and rehabilitation centre to the conservation park and wildlife
sanctuary it is today.
read more

NEXT environmental initiative the Rotoroa Island Trust has farewelled its Chairman Barrie Brown.
Barrie has stepped down after a decade at the helm - and oversaw the transition from being
a former Salvation Army drug and rehabilitation centre to the conservation park and wildlife
sanctuary it is today.

NEXT CEO Bill Kermode said
“Barrie has led the transformation of the island into a wonderful conservation park for the Hauraki Gulf and for New Zealand, and has been the key person in developing strong partnerships with The Salvation Army and Auckland Zoo. His stewardship of the Trust leaves a lasting legacy.”

Barrie Brown , who has taken over as Chair of NEXT, reflected “Development of the conservation park at Rotoroa is something I will look back on with great pride. It has involved many great people, and great partnerships, and been an enormous pleasure for me to be involved with.”

As well as being a wildlife sanctuary for endangered species like the Kiwi and Takahe, Rotoroa Island also offers an environmental educational programme for schools, and has a unique conservation relationship with Auckland Zoo.

NEXT would like to introduce you to one of the talented young Play it Strange musicians Teia Kennedy.
Teia’s wonderful single “Armani’s Song” backs the video for the Rotorua education initiative
Nga Pumanawa e Waru, that NEXT invests in. read more

NEXT would like to introduce you to one of the talented young Play it Strange musicians Teia Kennedy.
Teia’s wonderful single “Armani’s Song” backs the video for the Rotorua education initiative
Nga Pumanawa e Waru, that NEXT invests in.

Thank you Teia for your generosity in letting us share your music … and your story.

A milestone for Taranaki Mounga project, one of the environmental initiatives NEXT invests in. read more

A milestone for Taranaki Mounga project, one of the environmental initiatives NEXT invests in.

The Mounga has some new residents … following a successful relocation of the toutouwai or New Zealand robin from Pureora Forest Park to Mt Taranaki. This moving video follows the journey of the toutouwai, bringing back song to Taranaki Mounga.

NEXT was privileged to host international entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Richard Branson on a visit to Rotoroa Island - as part of his interest in New Zealand’s mission to become Predator Free by 2050.
read more

NEXT was privileged to host international entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Richard Branson on a visit to Rotoroa Island - as part of his interest in New Zealand’s mission to become Predator Free by 2050.

NEXT environmental advisor Sir Rob Fenwick has declared a call to arms to protect our country - in a national battle against invasive predators. read more

NEXT environmental advisor Sir Rob Fenwick has declared a call to arms to protect our country - in a national battle against invasive predators.

In a speech for NEXT Outlook Sir Robert says toxins and genetics should be part of the weaponry - but with the right careful but bold strategy a Predator Free New Zealand can be a reality. And New Zealand could be the Noah’s Ark of the South Pacific.

NEXT Foundation has today confirmed its Chairman Chris Liddell is stepping down as non-executive Chairman. Chris’ resignation follows his appointment as Assistant to the President and Director of Strategic Initiatives in the United States Administration. read more

NEXT Foundation has today confirmed its Chairman Chris Liddell is stepping down as non-executive Chairman. Chris’ resignation follows his appointment as Assistant to the President and Director of Strategic Initiatives in the United States Administration.

NEXT director Barrie Brown, a former Partner and Head of Private Client Services at PwC will assume the role of NEXT Foundation Chair on an interim basis. Retiring First NZ Capital Chief Executive Scott St John will join the NEXT Board as a Director.

“As Founding Chair of NEXT, Chris has made an enormous contribution to launching and building NEXT Foundation over the past three years, and introducing the concept of strategic philanthropy to New Zealand,” says new NEXT Chair Barrie Brown. “Chris' vision, energy, professionalism and integrity have set values for NEXT. His input has ensured NEXT is on track to building a legacy of excellence in the environment and education for future generations of New Zealanders. That is at the very core of NEXT’s ideals.”

Barrie Brown is an experienced Company Director. Since retiring from PwC fifteen years ago, he has held several Board positions including NEXT environmental initiatives Project Janszoon and the Rotoroa Island Trust, and was Chair of the Auckland City Mission Capital Foundation. He is Chair of private equity investor Waterman Capital, an independent trustee of the WA Stevenson Memorial Trust and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand.

Scott St John has been Chief Executive of First NZ Capital for 15 years and is stepping down next month. He will remain a non-executive director. Scott is Chancellor of the University of Auckland, a director of Fonterra, The Fonterra Shareholders Fund, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, and a former Chair or member of a number of Government appointed and financial industry bodies.

NEXT CEO Bill Kermode says Barrie Brown and Scott St John will ensure NEXT governance continues to be of the highest calibre, led by New Zealanders with the passion and drive to make the country better for our land and our people. He praised Chris Liddell for his contribution over the past three years to setting up NEXT and its agenda for a better New Zealand. “Chris has done an outstanding job as Founding Chair for NEXT. His strategic thinking, rigour, commitment, integrity and passion for New Zealand have set NEXT up well to make a permanent difference in education and the environment in this country. He will be sorely missed, and we wish him all the best in his new role.”

NEXT Foundation is pleased to be supporting eight New Zealand environment and education organisations, in addition to the five Foundation initiatives that the trustees had committed to before NEXT’s 2014 launch.
read more

NEXT Foundation is pleased to be supporting eight New Zealand environment and education organisations, in addition to the five Foundation initiatives that the trustees had committed to before NEXT’s 2014 launch.

We have clarified our focus within environment on a predator-free New Zealand, healthy rivers, and environmental education; and in education on principal and teacher excellence, digital and collaborative learning, and 0-3yrs education. The number and the quality of the projects we have supported have been better than we expected, and we are conscious that there are further ways, many non-financial, we can support system change in those areas.

We have therefore decided to focus our resource in 2017 again on doing that, and will not run an EOI process this year. We remain interested in any opportunity that can play a part in system change in our areas of interest.

NEXT is thrilled to announce its investment in “Talking Matters” - a campaign about the importance of communicating with babies in the first 1000 days. It’s NEXT’s first investment in early years education 0-3 years. read more

NEXT is thrilled to announce its investment in “Talking Matters” - a campaign about the importance of communicating with babies in the first 1000 days. It’s NEXT’s first investment in early years education 0-3 years.

Professor Stuart McNaughton Director of Woolf Fisher Research Centre at the University of Auckland explains why this is such an important area in education …

Funding for a new programme promoting the importance of communicating with kiwi babies and young children called “Talking Matters” has been announced today. read more

Funding for a new programme promoting the importance of communicating with kiwi babies and young children called “Talking Matters” has been announced today.

Talking Matters is seed funded by the NEXT Foundation.

“Early years – especially the first 1000 days - are critical in a child’s development,“ says Talking Matters director Alison Sutton. “A baby’s brain is making about 700 new connections a second and eighty per cent of the brain is developed by the time they are three. The quality and quantity of interaction and talk in those early years more or less sets a child up for future educational success and life opportunities.”

Talking Matters is a new approach, because it involves education, health and community organisations promoting the same message, says Sutton.

“Words are literally brain food for children and one of the most important things parents can do to make their children super learners is one of the simplest – to talk with them. The more words a child hears and engages with, the more concepts and language structure they have, the better they will learn.“

International research shows by the age of four some children have heard thirty million more words than others. In New Zealand, research shows some children start school able to use 6000 words, and others using only 3000.

Talking Matters will find ways for communities to wrap rich language environments around babies and young children – promoting the importance of communication to families and community groups. Talking Matters will be trialled in three areas in Auckland as a result of the NEXT funding.

NEXT Foundation Chairman Chris Liddell said NEXT is delighted to support this education initiative for young New Zealand children, its first investment in early education.

“NEXT Foundation believes education is one of the most important factors in determining New Zealand’s future success,” says Liddell.

“Investing in the early years, from newborn to three years – is one of our focus areas.

“We are thrilled to seed fund the Talking Matters initiative, it will help develop a model to roll out nationally across the country. This project has enormous potential for the learning outcomes of New Zealand children.

“All the research shows those children who start ahead – stay ahead.”

About NEXT Foundation:

NEXT Foundation was launched two years ago and will invest $100million over a ten year period to create a legacy of environmental and education excellence for the future generations of New Zealanders. For more information visit our website www.nextfoundation.org.nz

NEXT Chairman Chris Liddell and CEO Bill Kermode recently toured philanthropic foundations in the US … Chris discovered a thriving culture in Seattle - including some of his former colleagues at Microsoft. Read moreread more

NEXT Chairman Chris Liddell and CEO Bill Kermode recently toured philanthropic foundations in the US … Chris discovered a thriving culture in Seattle - including some of his former colleagues at Microsoft. Read more

NEXT CEO Bill Kermode recently visited US philanthropic foundations on a research trip with Chairman Chris Liddell - where a foundation in Boston introduced him to the concept of “venture philanthropy.” Read Moreread more

NEXT CEO Bill Kermode recently visited US philanthropic foundations on a research trip with Chairman Chris Liddell - where a foundation in Boston introduced him to the concept of “venture philanthropy.” Read More

Josie Hick drew the inspiration for her song “Dream Come True” sitting on her couch one day taking in the spectacular view of Mount Taranaki. Her song now backs NEXT's video of the Taranaki Mounga project - a groundbreaking collaboration to restore the iconic mountain and National Park. read more

Josie Hick drew the inspiration for her song “Dream Come True” sitting on her couch one day taking in the spectacular view of Mount Taranaki. Her song now backs NEXT's video of the Taranaki Mounga project - a groundbreaking collaboration to restore the iconic mountain and National Park.

Thanks Josie for your generosity in sharing your music with NEXT - through our partnership with the Play it Strange musical charity - which encourages singing and songwriting in secondary schools.

Wellington City Council (WCC), the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) and NEXT Foundation, today announced a joint collaboration to make Wellington the first Predator Free capital city in the world. read more

Wellington City Council (WCC), the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) and NEXT Foundation, today announced a joint collaboration to make Wellington the first Predator Free capital city in the world.

The ambitious project aligns with the recently announced Government mission to make the whole of New Zealand predator free by 2050. Without introduced predators’, birds, lizards, geckos and other native fauna will be able to grow and thrive in Wellington, bringing significant environmental, social and economic benefits.

Mayor Celia Wade-Brown said Wellington was proud to be leading the way to a predator-free New Zealand.

“Wellington’s existing natural capital makes a predator-free city possible. We have a strong foundation with over 120 volunteer restoration projects working in our network of reserves along with significant Council investment. This next step will enable the project partners to work with local communities to build the momentum that will be critical in sustaining the project over the long term.”

“We will also be seeking central government investment to ensure eradication is successful”, Mayor Wade-Brown said.

The initiative follows on from the success of neighbourhood trapping communities already established in Wellington – in particular Crofton Downs Predator Free Community spearheaded by local resident Kelvin Hastie.

NEXT Foundation chairman Chris Liddell also announced today it has engaged Kelvin as the NEXT Predator Free Community Champion to work with the Predator Free Wellington partners on this exciting mission. Kelvin will also ultimately support other communities in the wider vision of making New Zealand predator free by 2050.

“We are delighted to have Kelvin on board and to support Wellington in this bold vision,” said Liddell. “We are looking forward to Wellington being famous for not only the Beehive – but birdsong”.

Councillor Chris Laidlaw, GWRC Chair said, “We’re excited by the prospect of harnessing our collective skills and resources to bring the birds back to Wellington and restore the region’s biodiversity. Together we can more effectively achieve the Predator Free goal, working community by community, to provide a lasting benefit for future generations.”

Wellington City Council, GWRC and NEXT Foundation will jointly fund a Project Director to get the project underway. Initially the focus will be on developing a plan to eradicate rats and stoats from the Miramar Peninsula along with a strategy for extending this throughout Wellington City. Management of cats and dogs is not included in the scope of the proposed project but the need for Wellington residents to be responsible pet owners is a matter of ongoing interest to the Councils. Engaging with the community will form a large part of the project and lessons learnt in Crofton Downs and other areas will inform the project design and implementation. Expert advice will guide the development of the plan and strategy.

Miramar Peninsula is geographically well positioned to attempt a rat and stoat eradication. Possums were declared eradicated from Miramar Peninsula in 2006 by GWRC with support from WCC and the area has not been re-infested. Wellington City Council has already undertaken management of introduced predators of native animals across all its reserves, in
partnership with GRWC, and much work is done voluntarily by community groups.

GWRC currently undertakes possum and predator control in most of rural Wellington and within identified Key Native Ecosystems.

NEXT Foundation is delighted to announce a new partnership to support communities becoming predator free – it has engaged Wellingtonian Kelvin Hastie as the NEXT Predator Free Community Champion. read more

NEXT Foundation is delighted to announce a new partnership to support communities becoming predator free – it has engaged Wellingtonian Kelvin Hastie as the NEXT Predator Free Community Champion.

Kelvin, who spearheaded the successful Crofton Downs Predator Free Community project, will initially work with the Predator Free Wellington project in a bid to make Wellington City the first capital in the world to be predator free. The project, a collaboration between the Wellington City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council and the philanthropic NEXT Foundation was announced today.

NEXT CEO Bill Kermode said NEXT was thrilled to support Kelvin as one of its environmental investments towards a Predator Free New Zealand in 2050.

“Kelvin is like New Zealand’s urban predator hunter. He has shown in Crofton Downs how his unique charm, individual thinking, and enthusiasm can mobilise communities into action to become Predator Free,” Bill said.

“NEXT is thrilled to support him in scaling up his efforts to the wider Wellington region – and ultimately other parts of New Zealand. Kelvin will make a massive contribution to bringing back New Zealand’s birdsong.”

“The Predator Free Wellington project will also contribute to greater community engagement with the environment, as well as social and economic benefits.”

NEXT has already supported Kelvin to set up Predator Free communities in Wellington suburbs Wilton, Ngaio, Khandallah, Wadestown, Highbury, Northland and Plimmerton following on from the success of the project in Crofton Downs – which eliminated 184 rats and 27 stoats and weasels in the suburb before monitoring zero after 12 months. The Crofton Downs project was seed funded by Morgan Foundation and the Transpower community care fund.

Kelvin has a background in IT but became determined to out-think the predators after he saw a weasel outside his Crofton Downs home two years ago. He sparked the community into action, spurring one in every five households in the suburb into backyard trapping.

“I am really excited about my new role and the opportunity to work with the Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council in scaling up this project," Kelvin said. "In ten year’s time when this is successful the city will be teeming with birds and along the way we will be able to reintroduce iconic species like Kiwi and Kokako and some of our rare lizards. Wellington will be back into full song."

NEXT Foundation was launched two years ago and will invest $100 million over the next 10 years to create a legacy of environmental and educational excellence for the benefit of future generations of New Zealanders. For more visit our website www.nextfoundation.org.nz

NEXT met Jess through our partnership with the Play it Strange Charity - which supports songwriting and performance in secondary schools. We very much appreciate the generosity of Play It Strange in providing the soundtracks for NEXT - and the generosity of Jess, who we caught up with before she flew out to Canada on a University exchange…

How does a twenty-something Kiwi prepare for the challenges of the modern world?
That’s the question pitched to NEXT Foundation Chairman Chris Liddell by a group of
young New Zealanders called NEXT Generation who are on a journey of discovery about
philanthropy. read more

How does a twenty-something Kiwi prepare for the challenges of the modern world?
That’s the question pitched to NEXT Foundation Chairman Chris Liddell by a group of
young New Zealanders called NEXT Generation who are on a journey of discovery about
philanthropy.

NEXT supports projects that are transformational, inspirational and business-like. Part of “business-like” is using evidence to support actions and decision-making. “Big data” is widening the breadth of that evidence, and technology is making it potentially much more widely available. NEXT supports initiatives that create and use that data responsibly for better decision making. read more

NEXT supports projects that are transformational, inspirational and business-like. Part of “business-like” is using evidence to support actions and decision-making. “Big data” is widening the breadth of that evidence, and technology is making it potentially much more widely available. NEXT supports initiatives that create and use that data responsibly for better decision making.

James Mansell, a member of the New Zealand Data Futures Forum, produced a report to the New Zealand Productivity Commission last year called “Handing Back the Social Commons”, outlining the potentially transformative influence big data can have on effectiveness and innovation within the social sector. In May James discussed this potential with NEXT’s education initiatives and associates. We believe his thinking can be just as transformative in the education and environment sectors as in social sectors. So we are pleased to present here three introductions to James’ work to widen the audience:

That's the bold vision of the Government, which announced
$28 million investment over the next four years to kick start this
campaign… inspired by projects like NEXT’s Rotoroa Island and
Mount Taranaki Mounga.
read more

That's the bold vision of the Government, which announced
$28 million investment over the next four years to kick start this
campaign… inspired by projects like NEXT’s Rotoroa Island and
Mount Taranaki Mounga.

The Next Foundation values its relationship with Play It Strange, a Trust which encourages young New Zealanders to develop their song writing and musical skills.
Play it Strange has generously granted NEXT access to its artists – whose music appears on our project videos, on our website. read more

The Next Foundation values its relationship with Play It Strange, a Trust which encourages young New Zealanders to develop their song writing and musical skills.
Play it Strange has generously granted NEXT access to its artists – whose music appears on our project videos, on our website.

We would like to introduce the talented young musicians who are demonstrating their own kiwi philanthropy by giving to NEXT.
First up in our series is Danielle Uka, whose song National Anthem appears on the NEXT animation; and also the Zero Invasive Predators video. Thank you Danielle – from NEXT!

The NEXT Foundation has confirmed the areas it is most interested in regarding its strategy to improve New Zealand’s environment and education. read more

The NEXT Foundation has confirmed the areas it is most interested in regarding its strategy to improve New Zealand’s environment and education.

The guidelines have been released as it reaches its two year milestone and in advance of the next round of funding applications in 2017.

“We are thrilled with the partnerships we have developed since we ran our first application process in 2014,” says NEXT CEO Bill Kermode.

“We have completed two rounds of investments and assessed nearly 400 applications. That has helped us define our areas of interest moving forward.”

“ NEXT is looking to invest in new projects that can provide further momentum for change on a national scale. We want to support programmes that are transformational, inspirational, run in a business-like way, and importantly, that will leave New Zealand in a better place for future generations.”

The areas of most interest are:

ENVIRONMENT

Accelerate progress toward New Zealand being predator free

Healthy rivers and freshwater management

Environmental education

EDUCATION

Teacher and Principal excellence and education

Connection and collaboration (both within the education sector, and between the education and other sectors)

Technology in education

0-3 years early education

In the environment, existing projects like Project Taranaki Mounga, ZIP, Project Janszoon and Rotoroa Island all fit within the predator free guidelines. Te Awaroa was an initial incubation investment in the healthy rivers and freshwater area, with subsequent investments in both this and the environmental education area still to be made.

In education, the Springboard Trust, The Mind Lab by Unitec, Manaiakalani Outreach and Teach First are all NEXT supported projects that promote teacher and principal excellence and education. Nga Pumanawa e Waru, Springboard Trust, and Manaiakalani Outreach come within the NEXT connection and collaboration description. The Mind Lab by Unitec, Manaiakalani Outreach and Nga Pumanawa e Waru all have strong technology in education elements.

NEXT foundation is a $100million philanthropic spend-down fund, with a ten year life, supporting programmes not just financially but with partnerships, networks and introductions. Its philosophy is to look for transformational change that would not otherwise happen.

“We want clear definition of a problem or need, and a clear plan to address it in the initiatives we support. We want to see inspirational leadership and excellent project management and execution skills. And we want our projects to have wide impact and a plan for long term sustainability - not just financially but also in regard to their resources, capabilities and partnerships. Ultimately we are focusing on supporting a small number of large scale initiatives with these characteristics that can transform their area of interest in New Zealand,” said Mr Kermode.

In March it will be two years since NEXT Foundation was launched. In that time we have run two national Expression of Interest (“EOI”) processes, received nearly 400 applications, announced commitments to seven organisations, and are still in discussion with some others out of the 2015 EOI process. read more

In March it will be two years since NEXT Foundation was launched. In that time we have run two national Expression of Interest (“EOI”) processes, received nearly 400 applications, announced commitments to seven organisations, and are still in discussion with some others out of the 2015 EOI process.

We also continue to be involved with three NEXT Foundation legacy investments - Rotoroa Island Trust, Project Janszoon Trust and Teach First New Zealand.

The number and quality of projects we have supported to date have been significantly better than we expected at the outset, and we are conscious that there are further ways, many non-financial, that we can help to build the momentum of these organisations. We will continue to focus our resource this year on doing that.

We have therefore resolved that, given the exceptionally strong pipeline of projects, a decision on the next EOI process to seek applications will be made at the beginning of 2017.

No EOI process will run in 2016. We know that this will disappoint some organisations that were looking forward to applying this year, but we do expect to run another EOI process in 2017 and as needed thereafter.

An ambitious new conservation project has been the latest recipient of NEXT Foundation support: Project Taranaki Mounga aims to make Egmont National Park the first predator-free national park, creating a haven for native wildlife. read more

An ambitious new conservation project has been the latest recipient of NEXT Foundation support: Project Taranaki Mounga aims to make Egmont National Park the first predator-free national park, creating a haven for native wildlife.

The conical peak of Mount Taranaki dominates the region, surrounded by lush dairy farms and wearing a mantle of national park whose forest reaches up the slopes of the 2500 metre mounga.

The forest is thick with trees like kahikatea, tawa, tōtara, and rātā – in some areas trailing ferns and moss to create a ‘Goblin Forest’ – giving way to mountain cedar and red tussocks in the alpine zone. Rare native birds like North Island brown kiwi, fernbird and blue duck can occasionally be spotted.

But like most areas of New Zealand, much of the native biodiversity has been laid to waste by introduced wild goats, weasels, stoats, possums and rats.

FIGHTING THE INVADERS

NEXT Foundation environment adviser Devon Mclean says New Zealand has been losing biodiversity for a very long time, and “despite the efforts of our communities and DOC and others, we still have not stemmed the decline.”

To combat this, NEXT Foundation has committed to fund a share of an initial 18-month assessment phase of a ten-year project to be carried out with the Department of Conservation.

The project will kick off with pest and weed control over 34,000 hectares which includes Egmont National Park and a small number of volcanic peaks and offshore islands. The huge advantage to the longevity of the project is the surrounding pastureland which turns the mountain into an island.

“The nice thing about this project is while Mount Taranaki doesn’t have a predator proof fence around it, it has this big plain of dairy farms around it,” says McLean. “If we can encourage control over that, so there’s a minimum amount of invasion of predator species into the park, and carry out the pest control on the mountain, then we should get a pretty good outcome.”

Once the pests are under control, threatened and vulnerable birds, bats, plants, fish and invertebrates will be able to flourish.

A COMMUNITY PROJECT

Key to the success of the project is the working partnerships of iwi, the Taranaki community, local councils and the region’s private sector. McLean says this is a great opportunity for a community to get fully engaged in a project of this scale.

“This is an iconic project not just because of the mountain, but also because the community around it is hugely engaged with their mountain. There are 8 iwi in the area, and all of them regard the mountain as an ancestor. And the wider community living around the mountain, it’s a part of their identity, and it’s also a source of freshwater for Taranaki.”

We say we are the mountain and the mountain is us because it is our ancestor says Jamie Tuuta, Taranaki iwi leader.

“We have a responsibility to do our part and it is important that we participate in initiatives which increase the health and wellbeing of our mounga.”

LARGE SCALE CONSERVATION

Project Taranaki Mounga is the next step in NEXT Foundation’s plan to establish models of large scale environmental conservation in New Zealand. Project Taranaki Mounga follows on from the success of other NEXT Foundation related investments, such as creating a conservation park out of Rotoroa Island and Project Janszoon, a privately funded 30 year ecological restoration of Abel Tasman National Park. Project Taranaki Mounga will also make use of the technologies developed by the NEXT Foundation-funded Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) programme such as novel traps and automated monitoring.

McLean says in terms of conservation efforts, New Zealand needs these projects that operate at huge scale in order to build up the wildlife populations again in a safe environment – so that future generations of New Zealanders can enjoy them.

“I’ve got six grandchildren and I’d like them to grow up to see changes were made, that things are improving, that we’re not still talking about why our biodiversity is declining. That we’re actually seeing that the trend has turned and biodiversity is starting to come up again. That there are birds in our cities, that there’s great birdlife in our conservation estate. If I can do something to help that situation – what they experience – then I’ll feel like I’ve done some good work.”

An ambitious new conservation project aiming to
be one of the largest biodiversity restoration projects of its kind in New
Zealand is getting a giant boost.

NEXT Foundation Chair Chris Liddell announced
today an investment in Project Taranaki Mounga, which aims to transform the
ecology of Egmont National Park over the next twenty years, and permanently
thereafter.

Selected from more than 100 applications submitted
this year to NEXT Foundation's $100m programme, Liddell says Project Taranaki
Mounga can be transformative on a large scale, regenerating New Zealand’s
native birdlife in the Taranaki region.

NEXT Foundation has committed funding for its
share of an initial 18-month phase of the long term project alongside the
Department of Conservation (DOC). The
project aims to develop partnerships with DOC, iwi, the Taranaki community, local councils and the
region’s private sector. It will begin with pest control and the
ecological restoration of over 34,000 hectares of Egmont National Park and the
associated offshore islands.

“At NEXT
Foundation we believe one of the most important factors determining New
Zealand’s future success is our land and our environment,” said Liddell. “Project Taranaki Mounga
has the potential topush
further the boundaries of large-scale ecological restoration and serve as a
significant step towards a predator-free New Zealand.”

By securing the area from pests
and restoring its wildlife and biological diversity, the project will allow
threatened and vulnerable birds, bats, plants, fish and invertebrates to
flourish. In the future, a “biodiversity halo” around the
mountain will help buffer the Park from pest reinvasion.

“More than 25 million native birds
are killed across New Zealand by predators each year, threatening the survival
of native species, and causing irreversible damage to our environment. We’re
excited to support the initial phase of this project with the objective of
combining the efforts of business, government, iwi and the community to have a
huge positive impact on one of our iconic landmarks,” said Liddell.

Project Taranaki Mounga is the next step
in NEXT Foundation’s evolution of establishing models of large scale
environmental conservation in New Zealand. The project follows on from the
success of NEXT Foundation related investments inRotoroa
Island and Project Janszoon and builds on the innovation and technologies developed by the Zero Invasive Predators(ZIP)
programme which was founded by NEXT Foundation, last December.

“New Zealand has been losing biodiversity
for a very long time and we have not been able to stem the decline despite all
the efforts of communities, DOC and many other committed people,” says NEXT
Foundation environment adviser Devon McLean, who also chairs Predator Free New
Zealand, and manages Project Janszoon, a
privately funded 30 year ecological restoration of Abel Tasman National Park. We
need to operate at scale, keeping our birds and land safe for a long period of
time so they can build themselves up again.”

“This project is an opportunity for the
community to get involved in the active restoration of the park, and toward a
common goal of a predator-free New Zealand.”

Director General of Conservation Lou Sanson
says this is a case of private philanthropy, iwi, local Government and a
progressive community joining together to protect our nature for the future.

“This ground breaking conservation
initiative not only has significant returns for the mountain, the whenua and
the wildlife, but will also have on-going spin offs for regional tourism, environmental education and the Taranaki
economy."

Formed last
year, NEXT Foundation has already made large grants to education and the
environment following a rigorous due diligence process where applicants have to
demonstrate transformational scale, sustainability and excellent leadership.

About NEXT Foundation

NEXT Foundation was launched in March and
will invest $100 million over the next 10 years to create a legacy of
environmental and educational excellence for the benefit of future generations
of New Zealanders. NEXT Foundation will make commitments of approximately $5-15
million per annum, to be distributed as part of an annual process, to one to
four projects over their project lives. For more information and to view video
of the initiatives please visit - www.nextfoundation.org.nz

ZIP is a partnership between the Department of Conservation and NEXT Foundation, and commenced operations in February 2015.
This report touches on the work programme that began in March 2013 under Department of Conservation management, with more detail provided on the activities of the 2014/2015 business year. read more

ZIP is a partnership between the Department of Conservation and NEXT Foundation, and commenced operations in February 2015.
This report touches on the work programme that began in March 2013 under Department of Conservation management, with more detail provided on the activities of the 2014/2015 business year.

Financial summaries for ZIP span the first six month period of operations, between 1 January and 30 June 2015.

Chris Liddell, our Chair talks to NZ Herald's Education Reporter about Manaiakalani Outreach and the NEXT Foundation's commitment to people who are innovative and are trying different approaches in education. read more

Chris Liddell, our Chair talks to NZ Herald's Education Reporter about Manaiakalani Outreach and the NEXT Foundation's commitment to people who are innovative and are trying different approaches in education.

Read more: World-Class Auckland: Dramatic learning aid leads the way nationwide
When kids turn up for their first day at the cluster of low-decile schools in Auckland known as Manaiakalani, it's likely they wont be able to count to 10. They won't recognise their names. They won't know colours or shapes, or any of the other basics 5-year-olds are expected to know when they start.

"What that means," says Pat Snedden, chairman of the Manaiakalani Education Trust, "is that in the course of their life at primary, we have to accelerate their learning at 1.5 times the normal rate to have them ready for secondary school."

NEXT Foundation today announced a further two investments in education from the many excellent submissions to its 2014 application process. read more

NEXT Foundation today announced a further two investments in education from the many excellent submissions to its 2014 application process.

Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru is a Rotorua district-wide initiative that will use best practice e-learning teaching methodologies and collaboration between schools to transform educational outcomes for learners and whanau across all of Rotorua’s schools and kura. The Excel Rotorua Education Trust is in the early stages of enabling Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru, which will have 18 early adopter schools in its first year.

Manaiakalani Outreach is expanding on the proven approach of the Manaiakalani programme in the Tamaki Auckland region to initially support five clusters of predominantly decile 1 and 2 schools in Hornby in Christchurch, the West Coast of the South Island, Papakura and Mt Roskill in Auckland, and Kaikohe in Northland. Manaiakalani Outreach will make it possible for over 8,500 learners throughout New Zealand to experience accelerated learning outcomes.
The two programmes have much in common, and important differences.
Both are using collaborative learning pedagogiesenhanced by digital learning environments, integrated with strong family, whanau and community engagement, to accelerate student learning outcomes.

Both are working in communities with large Maori or Pasifika populations - Manaiakalani in predominantly lower decile schools, Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru across all deciles.

Both are aligned with the community of schools approach that is currently being introduced by the Ministry of Education in its Investing in Educational Success (“IES”) programme, and both have schools within them that have applied to join IES.

Both have independent evidence-based evaluation as an integral component of their development and progress, funded by NEXT Foundation.

Chris Liddell, Chair of NEXT Foundation said, “We are excited to announce our support for these two transformational initiatives that we believe are implementing improved models of education that can benefit all young New Zealanders.”

“The disparity in learning outcomes of children in lower decile school communities is difficult to resolve. But, we believe these initiatives have the potential to help address the very real issue of equity of education in New Zealand, through access to transformative collaborative digital learning and technology and the sustained involvement of parents, whanau and the community.”
“The qualities that characterised NEXT Foundation’s initial grants from the 2014 applications are again to the fore in Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru and Manaiakalani Outreach – powerful leadership, innovation alongside independent evaluation, and a track record of delivering measurable outcomes,” added Liddell.

Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru will deliver a programme which will support principals and teachers leading change in their schools. It will engage with community groups and iwi to gain involvement in supporting their schools and whānau in children’s learning. Partnerships with Noel Leeming, Vodafone, Apple, Samsung and Hewlett Packard will provide schools and the community with discounted rates for devices and access to data networks.

“We want Rotorua to be known as a great place to learn” said Leith Comer, Executive Chairman of Excel Rotorua Education Trust. “We want all of our schools to be well-led, well-resourced and staffed by superb teachers. We want all our learners to be engaged and excelling in their education; supported by their whānau with their learning enhanced by technology and connectivity at school, at home and the community. Everything we are doing must lead to improved engagement and achievement for all of our learners.”

“This kaupapa is championed by the Mayor, Her Worship the Honourable Steve Chadwick, and is supported by a number of community stakeholders.”

The long term goal of ‘Manaiakalani Outreach’ is to make available the cluster and community approach to poor communities serving over 120,000 young New Zealanders as part of mainstream education nationwide, aligning with NEXT Foundation’s vision to invest in transformational initiatives and potential catalysts for change at a national level.

Pat Snedden, Chair of Manaiakalani Education Trust said, “Living in a poor community should not determine your education outcomes. Unfortunately this has not been the case for many decile 1 and 2 schools who have not achieved similar outcomes to their neighbouring schools from wealthier suburbs.”

“The Manaiakalani methodology is successful because it gives school students the opportunity to learn through interconnectedness, and builds their capability in today’s digital tools, while supporting a community of school clusters and their teachers with resources for learning,” he said. “Combine these factors with binding parents to their child’s learning and the entire community benefits. All boats will rise on a rising tide.”

Professor Stuart McNaughton from the University of Auckland’s Woolf Fisher Research Centre has led independent evaluation of the Manaiakalani programme for the last three years. NCEA Level 2 success rates have risen from 26% to beyond 70% in three years of the programme at Tamaki College. At primary level there have been significant shifts in writing and student engagement levels. The programme is evidence based, innovative and proven. NEXT Foundation will fund extension of the Woolf Fisher evaluation to Manaiakalani Outreach.

NEXT Foundation will also fund an embedded developmental evaluation of Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru to build evaluative capability and practice into the schools. Professor Helen Timperley, Lisa Dyson and Professor Lorna Earl from the Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Auckland will lead this work with their findings contributing to the continuous improvement of the initiative.
“We are delighted to be working with Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru and the Manaiakalani Outreach to support these programmes to achieve their ambitious plans for learners. There is no more important work for a university to be doing than to integrate research and practice in the service of educational improvement,” says the Dean of Education and Social Work, Professor Graeme Aitken.

Bill Kermode, CEO NEXT Foundation said, “We have been working with both Trusts since their applications to us in June last year. We are delighted that the progress made since then has led to these two significant grants.”

“Both grants build on progress made through prior funding provided by other parties - a Social Sector Trial contract provided through Te Taumata O Ngati Whakaue Iho Ake Trust for Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru, and numerous philanthropic, corporate and community organisations led by Spark Foundation and Foundation North for Manaiakalani.”

The two grants are both for three years in principle, with the first year committed and subsequent years milestone-based. NEXT Foundation’s in principle commitments to education now total just under $15 million, including the two previously announced grants to The Mind Lab by Unitec and Springboard Trust. Annette and Neal Plowman also provide financial support in education to Teach First New Zealand and the University of Auckland Business School. NEXT Foundation’s 2015 application round closed on 26th June, 2015.

For more information and view videos of the initiatives please visit - www.nextfoundation.org.nz

About NEXT Foundation

NEXT Foundation was launched in March and will invest $100 million over the next 10 years to create a legacy of environmental and educational excellence for the benefit of future generations of New Zealanders. NEXT Foundation will, as part of an annual process, make commitments of approximately $5-15 million per annum to one to four projects for funding over their project lives.

Chair of Manaiakalani, Pat Snedden believes living in a low socio economic community should not determine your education outcomes. read more

Chair of Manaiakalani, Pat Snedden believes living in a low socio economic community should not determine your education outcomes.

“Manaiakalani schools in Auckland have parents with an average adult income of $19,000 per annum. We are fundamentally challenging the notion in New Zealand that just because you’re living in a low socio economic community you can’t do well at school,” he said. “We are demonstrating that we can change that dismal picture.”

Walk into Manaiakalani Schools and it is quickly apparent that something special is happening.

The Manaiakalani programme is a cluster of 12 schools in the Tamaki Auckland region, including Pt England School and is achieving accelerated learning through advanced teaching practice using technology and a digitally-enabled learning environment to connect and engage students. Critical to its success is the active role that parents and the local community play and the sense of partnership that drives the cultural change shared across the clustered schools.

Speak to Principal of Pt England School and Manaiakalani Schools cluster convenor, Russell Burt and you’ll come away with a sense of optimism for the future of our lower decile schools.

“I believe this programme has the potential to help solve the real problem of equity of education. It’s about access to transformative digital learning and technology to provide our kids with the opportunity. It’s about sustained involvement of parents and the community to lift their expectations and approach to their own families,” he said. “It’s also about equipping our kids with the education they need today to compete for tomorrow’s jobs.”

NEXT Foundation will fund Manaiakalani Outreach to support five clusters of schools in some of New Zealand’s lowest socio economic communities including Kaikohe in Northland , Papakura and Mt Roskill in Auckland, Hornby in Christchurch and the West Coast of the South Island. Manaiakalani Outreach will make it possible for over 8,500 learners throughout New Zealand to experience accelerated learning outcomes. The Manaiakalani Outreach programme will focus on learners from these lower-decile schools across New Zealand, focusing on a shared pedagogical understanding described as ‘Learn, Create, Share’ and using a digital learning environment and their community to accelerate learning outcomes for their students.

“We have learning from 8 years of working with schools in Tamaki that is enabling us to broaden our scope and go to schools that are struggling with all that comes with a community at subsistence level and taking them to a position where they can say, hand on heart, we’re doing really well for our kids and not just looking after their pastoral care but also a level of achievement that we can all be proud of,” said Snedden.

Professor Stuart McNaughton from the Woolf Fisher Research Centre at the University of Auckland has been evaluating the Manaiakalani programme for the last three years. Collecting observations and data, the researchers have been instrumental in the analysis and development of the programme. NCEA Level 2 success rates have risen from 26% to beyond 70% in three years of the programme at Tamaki College. At primary level there have been significant shifts in writing and student engagement levels. The programme is evidence based, innovative and proven.

“We have been privileged from the start to work with Education researchers at the University of Auckland to learn from their evaluations and analysis of information and data,” said Burt. “A third eye to observe classroom interaction and behaviour, test our data and feedback on big ticket issues has improved every aspect of the school process and connection.”

NEXT Foundation will fund a further extension of the Woolf Fisher evaluation to Manaiakalani Outreach.

Transformational in its potential to be nationally scaled, Manaiakalani Outreach follows the community of schools approach that is currently being introduced by the Ministry of Education in its Investing in Educational Success (“IES”) programme. IES is intended to strengthen collaboration between principals, teachers and schools in order to raise student achievement, specifically in those students who aren’t doing well. And, too many of those students are Māori and Pasifika children who continue to be under-served by the system.

“The Manaiakalani methodology is successful because it gives school students the opportunity to learn through interconnectedness, and builds their capability in today’s digital tools, while supporting a community of school clusters and their teachers with resources for learning,” he said. “Combine these factors with binding parents to their child’s learning and the entire community benefits. All boats will rise in a rising tide,” he said.

Pat Snedden is Chair of the Manaiakalani Education Trust that supports the Manaiakalani cluster of schools in Tamaki and the Manaiakalani Outreach programme.

Russell Burt is Principal of Point England School and convenor of the Manaiakalani Cluster of the 12 schools in the programme.

Leith Comer, Executive Chairman of Excel Rotorua Education Trust sits on the mahau of his ancestral house Tamatekapua, the captain of the Arawa waka. To his left is a pou-haki or flagstaff, with one of his illustrious chiefs Rangitihi as the foundation carving. Above him are his eight beating hearts, his children – Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru. It is from Rangitihi that Te Arawa tribes trace their decent and are brought together through a common ancestor.

In a similar vein an initiative curated by Excel Rotorua Education Trust, Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru will bring together all schools, learners, iwi, communities and whānau of Rotorua to share a common kaupapa.

“We want Rotorua to be known as a great place to learn,” said Leith.

“We want all of our schools in the district to be well-led, well-resourced and staffed by superb teachers. We want all our learners to be engaged and excelling in their education; supported by their whānau with their learning enhanced by technology and connectivity at school, at home and the community. Everything we are doing must lead to improved engagement and achievement for all of our learners.”

Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru is a Rotorua district-wide initiative that will use best practice e-learning teaching methodologies and collaboration between schools to improve educational outcomes for learners and whanau across all of Rotorua’s schools and kura. The Excel Rotorua Education Trust is in the early stages of enabling Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru, to engage with up to 30 schools in its first year.

“With funding from NEXT Foundation, Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru will deliver a programme which will support principals and teachers leading change in their schools,” said Leith. “We will engage community groups and iwi to gain involvement in supporting their schools and whānau in children’s learning. And, we’ll encourage and facilitate collaboration between schools by establishing places where communities can share their e-learning plans and best practice.”

Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru addresses an opportunity for the Rotorua District to improve achievement outcomes for all learners of whom 54% are Maori. This transformational shift to a community that learns through a digital learning environment and pedagogy is fully supported by community stakeholders.

“This kaupapa is especially championed by the Mayor, Her Worship the Honourable Steve Chadwick,” said Leith. “The symbol that Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru carries is a ‘Cheeky E’ and will be awarded to people, places and organisations which excel in the kaupapa. We are delighted to award the Mayor of Rotorua the first ‘Cheeky E’, for her determination to make Rotorua an eCity.”

NEXT Foundation will also fund an evidence-based evaluation as an integral component of Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru’s development and progress. Professor Helen Timperley and Professor Lorna Earl from the Faculty of Education at the University of Auckland will lead the independent evaluation to measure and assess its effectiveness and build evaluative capability into the practising schools and community stakeholders. Their findings will contribute to the continuous improvement of the initiative.

“I think the greatest responsibility parents, the community and iwi have is to make sure each and every child receives the best education that is possible,” added Leith. “Education is the doorway to opportunity. Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru – he kaupapa motuhake mō tātou. Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru is an important kaupapa for us all.”

Leith Comer is Executive Chairman of Excel Rotorua Education Trust and a former Senior Army Officer and Public Servant.

Five qualities that we will be looking for in this year’s ‘Expressions of Interest’ applications - transformational change, outstanding leadership and management, measuring impact, business-like operations and good governance - were well illustrated by the successful 2014 applicants. read more

Five qualities that we will be looking for in this year’s ‘Expressions of Interest’ applications - transformational change, outstanding leadership and management, measuring impact, business-like operations and good governance - were well illustrated by the successful 2014 applicants.

As we open our 2015 Expressions of Interest process we will again be looking for initiatives that are a catalyst for transformational change in New Zealand. The mission of Zero Invasive Predators (“ZIP”), one of the four NEXT Foundation grants announced late last year, is indicative of such an ambitious, shared national goal - to remove on a permanent basis rats, stoats and possums from large areas of mainland New Zealand. ZIP’s barrier approach to keeping large land areas predator-free could have significant value for many conservation projects across the country.

Subsequently completing one of the most significant private-public- philanthropic partnerships in New Zealand’s conservation history, by bringing together five major dairy organisations – Fonterra, Open Country, Synlait, Tatua and Westland Milk – with Sam and Gareth Morgan, NEXT Foundation and DOC, was therefore a notable milestone for ZIP, and an excellent example of the catalytic effect strategic philanthropy can have. At the launch of the Dairy Partnership earlier this year, Al Bramley, CEO ZIP summed it up, “together we will be able to innovate and pilot ZIP’s work to the next order of magnitude.”

Outstanding project leadership and management/execution capacity are characteristics we also want in initiatives we support. We invest in long term partnerships that are invariably built around great leaders.

Ian Narev, Chair of SpringBoard Trust and highly respected business CEO, is exemplary of the leadership we are looking for in our partnerships. SpringBoard Trust’s programme involves business leaders mentoring primary school principals on strategic leadership in what is another excellent private-public-philanthropic partnership example. Ian mentors a group of Principals each year himself, and as Chairman leads the Board in ensuring the organisation has excellent management to execute its operations and growth plan.

Dame Anne Salmond, recipient of a grant last year for her initiative Te Awaroa, A Thousand Rivers, is another great example of a visionary New Zealand leader. Her belief in this country’s ability to overcome tough issues, and her tireless efforts to foster collaboration, are big factors in her leadership success.

"We are a small country with a big appetite for taking on formidable challenges,” said Dame Anne at the announcement of Te Awaroa and NEXT Foundation’s partnership. “Our challenge is to bring everyone together to make sure that our rivers - the life blood of the land – are thriving. It won’t be easy. By taking care of our rivers, we are taking care of this beautiful land for our children and grandchildren, and safeguarding its future prosperity. What could be better than that?”

The SpringBoard Trust partnership also shines a light on the importance we see of measuring the impact of initiatives. NEXT funded SpringBoard to undertake robust and rigorous research and evaluation on the impact of its programmes on learning outcomes. Springboard has commissioned New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER) to do this work.

We want the organisations we support to be run in a business-like way. We put an emphasis on clear objectives and strategy, and effective management of operations. Frances Valintine and The Mind Lab by Unitec demonstrate these qualities well. The Mind Lab is expanding operations from Auckland to Gisborne, Wellington and Christchurch in this year, and Frances is growing The Mind Lab team rapidly. That requires the organisation giving clarity of purpose, role and deliverables to all members of its team and then ensuring they meet them.

Good governance is an important part of being run in a business-like way. That doesn’t mean a large Board with representatives from across the globe for our sort of organisation. It normally means 3-4 people with extensive experience relevant to the organisation, in a Board or trustee structure, almost always with a very capable Chairperson leading them. Experienced people one step removed from the day to day executive activity working as a team to provide oversight has enormous value we believe.

We are delighted with the first four partnerships we formed in 2014, and we hope this description of some of their qualities helps you shape your Expression of Interest. We look forward to receiving it.

To help guide your application, we have outlined what we are looking for in Expressions of Interest this year. We know we’ll be inspired by your submissions again!read more

To help guide your application, we have outlined what we are looking for in Expressions of Interest this year. We know we’ll be inspired by your submissions again!

One year on and we’re excited to open our Expression of Interest (“EOI”) process for 2015.

Last year, we were inspired by the 287 submissions we received. They represented a privileged insight into the hearts and minds of all that is good about New Zealand and New Zealanders. They contained great ideas, innovation, passion, community service, generosity, enthusiasm, volunteering, and a shared belief in a way to a better New Zealand.

We know we’ll be inspired again this year.

We are attracted to initiatives that can demonstrate transformational change that would otherwise not occur. We’re looking for initiatives that will have broad impact, with the potential to be national in scale. We will always ask whether the initiative can be scaled to have national impact, what needs to happen for that to occur, and how much would that would cost.

It may sound easy but we need a clear description of the problem and how your initiative addresses it. It’s the first thing we look at.

Leadership and project management skills are critical. We look to develop a multi-year and engaged relationship with the organisations we support, and to do that effectively, we need to know they have an excellent lead team.

Understanding the model for long term sustainability of the initiative - financial and otherwise - is also important to a successful submission.

We appreciate that not all projects will have all of these qualities put in place today but we are interested to understand how they would be.

To make the submission process more efficient, this year’s applications will be completed online directly from NEXT Foundation’s website at Apply Now. Your EOI will be uploaded as part of this process, not emailed to us separately as last year. Uploading will be available from May 18, 2015 until the close of the 2015 EOI process at 3pm on June 26, 2015. You can find more details about our EOI process in the Applications section of NEXT Foundation’s website.

We know we can fund only a very small number of initiatives each year, but we want to continue to stay connected to the many innovative projects that we have the privilege of reviewing. NEXChange was created to give visibility to the many impressive submissions of those who chose to share them. More than 80 did from the 2014 process. NEXChange has helped inspire interest in other projects deserving of support and enable the community to exchange information, learn, and grow together.

Thank you for your interest in the NEXT Foundation and for the opportunity to support your vision for a transformed New Zealand. We wish all applicants all the very best in this year’s EOI process.

Doug Lemov writes in The Guardian about the revolution that could change the way your child is taught. He believes great teachers are made, not born – and his ideas are transforming education.
read more

Doug Lemov writes in The Guardian about the revolution that could change the way your child is taught. He believes great teachers are made, not born – and his ideas are transforming education.

(Excerpt from the full article)…Lemov never considered himself a brilliant teacher. When he taught at a school in a poor neighbourhood of Boston, he enjoyed training days, and left them eager to apply what he had learned in planning the next day’s lessons. Then the next day arrived, and his plan collapsed: instead of inspiring kids with his enthusiasm for English or history, he spent his time imploring them to be quiet when he was talking and to stop throwing pens.

In the staffroom one day, a more experienced colleague gave him a piece of advice. “When you want them to follow your directions, stand still. If you’re walking around passing out papers it looks like the directions are no more important than all of the other things you’re doing.” This was a revelation.

It was exactly the kind of guidance – clear, practical, precise – that Lemov had been missing. And it worked.

Lemov, who has an MBA from Harvard, likes precision, and he likes to break a problem down into its component parts before putting together an answer. That was how he set about solving the problem of becoming a better teacher, and it is also how he thinks about the problem that preoccupies him more than any other: closing the “achievement gap” between poor students and everyone else. In fact he has come to see the two problems as inextricably linked…

The Guardian’s Jeremy Hanse travelled to New Zealand to cover a story about an innovative and ambitious undertaking by Rotoroa Island and the Auckland Zoo to ‘turn tiny New Zealand island into bold wildlife experiment.’ He talks about the big things happening on Rotoroa Island and the a new sanctuary for endangered species that aims to create a whole new ecosystem. read more

The Guardian’s Jeremy Hanse travelled to New Zealand to cover a story about an innovative and ambitious undertaking by Rotoroa Island and the Auckland Zoo to ‘turn tiny New Zealand island into bold wildlife experiment.’ He talks about the big things happening on Rotoroa Island and the a new sanctuary for endangered species that aims to create a whole new ecosystem.

“Across most of our planet, truly wild, unmanaged places are a thing of the past. Human activity has altered landscapes and ecosystems to a point where intervention is necessary if we are to maintain biodiversity and sustain a healthy planet,” said Onnie Byers, the chair of the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, which is playing an advisory role to the project. “To make a meaningful contribution to the long-term conservation of biodiversity we need to explore new ways of integrating across the spectrum of management from wild to captive. This project does just that.”

Borrowing from a Q&A that Project Janszoon published in their recent newsletter, ZIP CEO Al Bramley talks about the progress they are making in Marlborough. read more

Borrowing from a Q&A that Project Janszoon published in their recent newsletter, ZIP CEO Al Bramley talks about the progress they are making in Marlborough.

Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) Ltd has been established as a research and development company to pioneer a new approach to predator management. ZIP’s aim is to completely remove rats, stoats and possums from large areas of the mainland utilising new and existing predator control technologies.

Al Bramley is ZIP’s CEO and we asked him to tell us about ZIP’s development site and how Project Janszoon is helping in the fight against invasive predators.

Where is ZIP’s development site?

Our field laboratory is a 440 hectare site on the Bottle Rock Peninsula in the Marlborough Sounds (pictured above), near the start of the Queen Charlotte track. We are establishing a rat and possum-free zone on the small peninsula and then will try and defend it from reinvasion without using a predator fence.

How does it work?

Initially we need to remove all the invasive predators and to do this we are using fairly standard tools like traps and toxins. Once the predators are removed we will use a defence barrier system to stop reinvasion. It involves a series of six defence lines spaced 100m apart. Each defence line has multiple tools every 10m, which is a lot more intensive than a typical trap line, where traps are usually spaced 100m by 100m for rats.

How close are you to removing all the predators?

We think we are down to the last half dozen possums and 50 odd rats. As we get down to really small rat numbers we will use a new lure developed by the Goodnature team. It smells of rat and works because rats get lonely and should be attracted by the lure. We estimate in two to three months we will have got rid of every rat and possum. Then the hard work begins.

What happens when you get rid of all the predators?

Then we begin to improve the defence barrier system and our detection system in the protected zone. The barrier system is already in place and somewhat surprisingly seems to be working quite well, but this is unchartered territory and we need to understand what's working and refine it. ZIP has learnt a lot already but as we develop the barrier we expect it to be breached.

What innovative tools are you using?

We have 600 traps that are linked together electronically so there is live reporting into a satellite monitoring system. That means we know when a trap has caught or killed a predator and we can respond quickly. As we are using some live traps that real time monitoring is essential.

How is Project Janszoon helping?

We have already been testing new lures on Project Janszoon’s trap network in the Abel Tasman National Park and at least one lure showed promising results. We work closely with the Project Janszoon team and we may end up testing other new technologies and methodologies in the Park.

Where to from here?

ZIP plans to develop the system at Bottle Rock Peninsula for the next three to five years. With that learning we will then be able to take our work to the next order of magnitude.

Are there other ideas you are looking at?

We are already looking at things like novel traps or toxins, long-life lures, and automated detection. We also get people coming to us with new proposals and some of those are promising. ZIP intends to work alongside researchers and engineers to develop a complete set of tools to tackle invasive predators.

ZIP is a partnership between the NEXT Foundation (whose funders also support Project Janszoon), DOC, the dairy industry and philanthropists Gareth Morgan and Sam Morgan.

Reflecting our philosophy of strategic philanthropy and measuring the impact of initiatives, NEXT Foundation is delighted to announce an additional investment to SpringBoard Trust (SBT) to enable robust and rigorous evaluation of their programmes. SBT has commissioned New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER) to research learning outcomes from the SBT programmes and we’re thrilled to have their depth of expertise to lead this work. read more

Reflecting our philosophy of strategic philanthropy and measuring the impact of initiatives, NEXT Foundation is delighted to announce an additional investment to SpringBoard Trust (SBT) to enable robust and rigorous evaluation of their programmes. SBT has commissioned New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER) to research learning outcomes from the SBT programmes and we’re thrilled to have their depth of expertise to lead this work.

NEXT Foundation announced in December last year our investment in the SBT, a charitable trust within New Zealand’s education sector working to improve student outcomes by assisting educational leaders and their communities grow in strategic, structured and scalable ways. Focused on enhancing the leadership and strategic planning skills of school principals, the SBT is creating more effective management of schools and - most importantly - better learning outcomes for students.

SBT is led by chair Ian Narev, a passionate advocate for education for all New Zealanders who believes young Kiwis should have access to a great education regardless of their financial circumstances or geographic location.
Ian believes "We all need to work towards better student achievement for all students throughout New Zealand, making sure that regardless of what environment they are growing up in - what neighbourhood they are growing up in, or what decile school they go to – they have an equal opportunity for a good education. This is a critical right. In order for New Zealand to be strong we need to do everything we can to help our young Kiwis get a good education.”

“SBT helps principals make their schools better,” said Narev. “If you want to help an organisation or a team to get better you start with the leader.”

Thanks to its roots in the business community, SBT is able to connect and draw on a multitude of resources in order to focus on the essence of its model - “investing in frontline leadership” - delivering a suite of programmes that leverage, adapt and share best practices across sectors. To do this SBT works via capacity building and strategic partnerships within New Zealand’s corporate and philanthropic sectors and delivers four programmes including the Strategic Leadership for Principals Programme, the Alumni Learning Platform, the Schools@Heart Programme and the Learning Forum.
“SpringBoard Trust brings people from different businesses to work alongside Principals, we call them Capacity Partners,” added Narev. “They work very closely with the Principals getting to know their schools. The partnership between the Capacity Partners and the Principals works very well for both.”
The Strategic Leadership for Principals Programme is designed to help principals develop robust strategic goals and plans for their organisations, and enable them to think more strategically about areas such as planning, resource allocation, staff engagement and stakeholder management. SLPP is taught via group workshops and requires principals to produce robust strategic plans for their respective schools.

The initial curriculum was developed by Narev, who was previously a partner at management consulting firm McKinsey & Co and is now CEO of Commonwealth Bank of Australia, which has more than 50,000 employees. Subsequent contributors to the curriculum include Mark Russell, Michelle Kong and Jane Judd.
SBT initially concentrated its efforts on principals from low-decile schools in South Auckland, and has since expanded to include West Auckland and Northland schools. Planning is now underway to further expand into Waikato and the Bay of Plenty. In total, 84 school principals in Auckland and six in Northland have so far completed the trust’s year-long portal Strategic Leadership for Principals Programme.

With the continued support of its strategic partners and NEXT Foundation, SBT plans to expand significantly over the next five years to work with a further 264 principals, ultimately impacting more than 100,000 students.

“The Springboard Trust has a simple philosophy: if we can help make principals more successful then we can help make schools and their students more successful. What we’re hoping to achieve over the next 5-10 years starts with the students. We want to help impact education outcomes.”

The Mind Lab is expanding! We are delighted to partner with them to offer 800 NEXT Generation Teacher scholarships to their Postgraduate Programme and even more delighted that they now extend to Gisborne and Wellington public school teachers. read more

The Mind Lab is expanding! We are delighted to partner with them to offer 800 NEXT Generation Teacher scholarships to their Postgraduate Programme and even more delighted that they now extend to Gisborne and Wellington public school teachers.

We view The Mind Lab Postgraduate programme as a significant opportunity for teachers to arm themselves with the tools and knowledge for today’s classroom and prepare their students for tomorrow’s world and workforce.
We wish all The Mind Lab NEXT Generation Teachers all the best in their endeavour to explore this world and integrate online learning practices into their teaching practice.
Check out our video of Frances Valintine for her story here.

If you'd like to learn more about the Postgraduate Programme visit The Mind Lab at www.themindlab.com

Five major dairy companies today joined NEXT Foundation, DOC and philanthropists Sam and Gareth Morgan in a dramatic partnership. read more

Five major dairy companies today joined NEXT Foundation, DOC and philanthropists Sam and Gareth Morgan in a dramatic partnership.

Together they endeavour to dramatically transform the way invasive predators are managed on mainland New Zealand.

The commitment of $5 million will accelerate the pace of research and development (R&D) capabilities and testing of the Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) programme.

At a press briefing today in the Marlborough Sounds NEXT Foundation Chairman, Chris Liddell said, “A core tenet of NEXT Foundation’s philanthropic efforts is to accelerate game-changing large-scale transformational environmental initiatives. The partnership represents what we believe is a great model for New Zealand – where the public sector, the private sector and the philanthropic sector come together to achieve a great result for our country.”

The vision is ambitious - to ensure the long-term resilience of New Zealand’s biodiversity by completely removing rats, stoats and possums from large areas of the mainland, and keeping them out.

These invasive predators cause the majority of damage to New Zealand’s native biodiversity, killing an estimated 25 million native birds each year. Department of Conservation projections show that if we don’t come up with better ways to remove these predators, then even the iconic kiwi could face extinction on the mainland within our grandchildren’s lifetime.

As well as posing a major threat for our native birdlife, possums are a carrier of bovine tuberculosis, an infectious disease that can affect cattle and deer. Therefore it makes sense for the dairy industry to get involved in stepping up the work to remove these predators.

Speaking for the dairy industry Fonterra CEO, Theo Spierings says, “Diseases and pests are a threat to dairy farming and the New Zealand environment. Farmers already lose millions of dollars due to predators and we want to get behind efforts that accelerate the eradication of pests in New Zealand and protect agricultural incomes.”

ZIP strives to be the difference and enable wide-scale restoration of our native species.

ZIP will cast a net far and wide for ground breaking predator management technologies working alongside researchers and engineers to develop the complete set of tools to tackle these invasive predators and rid them from large scale areas on the mainland.

“Working with the dairy industry will give us access to the dairy farms of New Zealand who are on the front line of the fight against invasive species and allow us to accurately assess the physical and reputational damage that inadequate pest control brings to New Zealand and its strongest export sector,” says Liddell.

NEXT Foundation has been involved in active applied research and pilots in the Marlborough Sounds in partnership with DOC for several months. The partnership will further this work on a wider scale including investigating potential solutions such as advanced lures, remote detection, and deterrent technologies.

Elizabeth Kolbert, respected commentator on environmentalism and journalist for The New Yorker visited Project Janszoon (www.janszoon.org) recently and published a feature about New Zealand’s crusade to eradicate predators.

Dame Anne Salmond is Patron of Te Awaroa, A Thousand Rivers. A distinguished academic and environmentalist, and passionate New Zealander, Dame Anne is leading a crucial effort to save our rivers.

“I grew up on the East Coast, where there are two rivers that are very special to me,” she said. “Both are in trouble today.”

“Waterways are like a canary in the cage. If our rivers are sick, our families, communities and businesses also suffer. We need to treat our rivers as taonga, not toilets.”

The problem of river quality is widespread. In 2013, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment reported that 80% of monitored river sites presented ‘poor’ or ‘fair’ water quality. These stark results highlight the national importance of this issue.

The deficient health of New Zealand’s waterways is a danger signal. Allowing our rivers to degrade to the point where we’re breeding waterborne disease and creating toxic dumps will incur widespread damage.

“Rivers can die. They can become toxic. We cannot take it for granted that our rivers will be safe for our children to swim in without getting sick. Why would we tolerate that?”

Learning a lesson from other countries, New Zealand cannot afford for its rivers to degenerate any further. Degraded waterways cost tens or hundreds of millions to clean up, and even then it takes decades to clean a river and restore its ecosystem.

Yet New Zealanders want to take care of their land. 92% of New Zealanders want to see rivers that our families can swim and fish in.

“Our environment and its rivers strike at the heart of our global image. We want New Zealand to continue to be an attractive place to do business and a place where talented people and their families want to live. So much of our economy is dependent on an image of a clean, green, beautiful productive land where food is safe and good and the landscape is breath taking.”
Te Awaroa is about helping our rivers to flourish. Working alongside local people to solve the issue of river quality, Te Awaroa will be a catalyst and support for communities who want to ensure their rivers are healthy.

Using a coordinated ‘whole of catchment’ approach the team at Te Awaroa will work with the breadth of stakeholders – from farmers to scientists to community leaders – to solve river challenges.

“Every river is different. Te Awaroa’s success will be its winning formula of well informed, strategic action carried out by networks made up of scientists, young people, farmers, iwi and other residents, local businesses and councils - taking care of our rivers together.”

In its first, ‘prototyping’ year, the project will start by experimenting with specific rivers and catchment areas, working together with the community to better understand the history of each river, its current challenges and the community it serves, and those actions that will most effectively ensure its health and well-being.

“Together, we’ll brainstorm new ideas and design new initiatives that can be implemented within the local community”.

Dame Anne appreciates it will be a huge challenge.

“We are a small country with a big appetite for taking on formidable challenges. Our challenge is to bring everyone together to make sure that our rivers - the life blood of the land – are thriving.

As New Zealanders, we are passionate about our country. By taking care of our rivers, we are taking care of this beautiful land for our children and grandchildren, and safeguarding its future prosperity. What could be better than that? ”

Al Bramley CEO of ZIP talks about an innovative partnership to transform the way invasive predators are managed on the mainland of New Zealand. read more

Al Bramley CEO of ZIP talks about an innovative partnership to transform the way invasive predators are managed on the mainland of New Zealand.

Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) Ltd is an innovative partnership between NEXT Foundation, the Department of Conservation and philanthropists Gareth Morgan and Sam Morgan to dramatically transform the way invasive predators are managed on mainland New Zealand.

The vision is ambitious - to ensure the long-term resilience of New Zealand’s biodiversity by completely removing rats, stoats and possums from large areas of the mainland, and keeping them out.

These invasive predators cause the majority of damage to New Zealand’s native biodiversity, killing an estimated 25 million native birds each year. Department of Conservation projections show that if we don’t come up with better ways to remove these predators, then even the iconic Kiwi could face extinction on the mainland within our grandchildren’s lifetime.
ZIP strives to be the difference and halt the decline in our native species.

“We’ll be casting our net far and wide for ground breaking predator management technologies to enhance our system,” says ZIP’s CEO Al Bramley. “We intend to work alongside researchers and engineers to develop the complete set of tools to tackle these invasive predators and rid them from large scale areas on the mainland.”

“We will look at things like novel traps or toxins, long-life lures, and automated monitoring. We will also explore using our existing predator control tools but in different ways, to get the most out of the technologies we already have.”

ZIP builds on the work that the Department of Conservation already does to refine and enhance predator control tools and techniques. It is anticipated the venture will attract other funders and researchers.

“NEXT Foundation and the Department of Conservation together with co-investors Sam Morgan and the Morgan Foundation have presented us with the opportunity to really focus on this particular challenge in predator management, and gives the added impetus needed to make a bigger difference for our native species,” Bramley says.

New Zealand is a world leader in clearing invasive predators from land areas, but faces a constant battle from reinvasion, especially on the mainland.

“Keeping the predator out is the biggest challenge,” Bramley says. “ZIP will focus on technologies and methodologies of detecting invaders early and removing them again before they re-establish.”

While a work plan is yet to be finalised, ZIP is likely to begin with land areas such as large peninsulas. This is due to their shape making them relatively easier to defend, once predators are removed. A development site has already been established at Bottle Rock Peninsula, in the Marlborough Sounds, where current predator control methods can be assessed and new tools developed and tested.

ZIP is being set up under an independent corporate trustee structure, to give the flexibility and agility required to be responsive to new ideas and developments. All returns on investment in ZIP will be put back into maximising gains for conservation.

Bramley says it is an ambitious long term plan, but there’s no reason why we can’t achieve it. “People used to say we’d never get rid of rats from islands. Now we do it all the time. We are ready for the challenge.”

Taxpayers, local authorities, community groups, and private landowners spend tens of millions of dollars every year on predator control. ZIP’s work aims to make advances in developing the technology that delivers enduring returns for both conservation and the economy.

Frances Valintine, Founder and Chair of The Mind Lab by Unitec advocates teachers are the answer to preparing our students for a super charged world. read more

Frances Valintine, Founder and Chair of The Mind Lab by Unitec advocates teachers are the answer to preparing our students for a super charged world.

Award winning The Mind Lab by Unitec is a learning facility fundamentally designed to enable children to get excited about technology. But, while its focus is on the students of today it is equally focused on teaching the teachers of today. Call it a multiplier effect, by developing teachers The Mind Lab will make a big difference in the learning outcomes of a student.

“To better educate our children, we need to help empower teachers, supporting them to use new technology, online learning tools and problem solving activities to transform their classrooms, their schools and their communities," says Frances Valintine, Founder and Chair of The Mind Lab by Unitec.

Technology has fundamentally changed how we communicate, share and learn. This change has come with both opportunities and challenges.

“Education has been slowly evolving over many decades however today the system is challenged by the demands of a digital era where students are growing up in an entirely digital world.”

The education model is challenged by supersonic speed digital technology that demands new digital learning techniques where teachers can prepare students for a digital economy.

“Teachers are grappling with how to teach a generation of kids that have access to devices that enable them to share, communicate and connect in a very different way to when they trained as teachers. Teachers want to be supported with development programmes that allow them to explore this world and integrate online learning practices into their teaching practice.”

The Mind Lab has many different facets – a programme for schools to engage their students’ onsite, holiday programmes and a postgraduate programme for teachers. And, technology is treated as an enabler and a tool rather than a subject or topic.

“We have bus-loads of teachers and kids that are exposed to new active ways of learning. They can roll up their sleeves and immerse themselves in 3D design, film and animation, engineering, coding or robotics. We want teachers to introduce a broader range of subjects at a young age. We want to spark their curiosity about science and technology.”

The Mind Lab offers a postgraduate qualification that upskills educators to implement new digital and collaborative learning practices. The programme is a 32 week part-time certificate that enables teachers to study while working. During that period they can gain insight and first-hand experience in the new technologies and collaborative pedagogies that are shaping 21st century education.

Funding from the NEXT Foundation will be used to subsidise the costs of 800 teachers to embark on the postgraduate programme.

“Next generation teachers want to continue their engagement and create a dialogue with their students that is relevant. This qualification is a significant opportunity for teachers to arm themselves with the tools and knowledge for today’s classroom and prepare their students for tomorrow’s world and workforce.”

“We live in a super charged, fast moving world where replacement body parts can be printed on a 3D printer, where cars can drive themselves and where you can book scenic flights to outer space. If we fool ourselves for even a moment that technology skills are not essential for future success, we risk preparing our students for a world that no longer exists.”

“We need our future generation to be innovators, creators and inventors. We need scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs beyond the obvious economic benefits of developing highly skilled graduates who create tech focused products and services. There are many social gains that come from developing skills where there are great opportunities for our students’ future employment.”

Currently in Auckland only, The Mind Lab is planning to open Mind Labs in Wellington, Gisborne and potentially Christchurch in the next year.

The Springboard Trust Chair Ian Narev believes it is a critical right for young kiwis to have access to a great education regardless of their circumstance. read more

The Springboard Trust Chair Ian Narev believes it is a critical right for young kiwis to have access to a great education regardless of their circumstance.

The Springboard Trust (SBT) is a unique charitable trust within New Zealand’s education sector working to improve student outcomes by assisting educational leaders and their communities grow in strategic, structured and scalable ways. Focused on enhancing the leadership and strategic planning skills of school principals, the Springboard Trust is creating more effective management of schools and - most importantly - better learning outcomes for students.

The trust is led by chair Ian Narev, a passionate advocate for education for all New Zealanders who believes young Kiwis should have access to a great education regardless of their financial circumstances or geographic location.

Ian believes "We all need to work towards better student achievement for all students throughout New Zealand, making sure that regardless of what environment they are growing up in - what neighbourhood they are growing up in, or what decile school they go to – they have an equal opportunity for a good education. This is a critical right. In order for New Zealand to be strong we need to do everything we can to help our young Kiwis get a good education.”

Thanks to its roots in the business community, SBT is able to connect and draw on a multitude of resources in order to focus on the essence of its model - “investing in frontline leadership” - delivering a suite of programmes that leverage, adapt and share best practices across sectors. To do this SBT works via capacity building and strategic partnerships within New Zealand’s corporate and philanthropic sectors and delivers four programmes including the Strategic Leadership for Principals Programme, the Alumni Learning Platform, the Schools@Heart Programme and the Learning Forum.

The Strategic Leadership for Principals Programme is designed to help principals develop robust strategic goals and plans for their organisations, and enable them to think more strategically about areas such as planning, resource allocation, staff engagement and stakeholder management. SLPP is taught via group workshops and requires principals to produce robust strategic plans for their respective schools. The initial curriculum was developed by Narev, who was previously a partner at management consulting firm McKinsey & Co and is now CEO of Commonwealth Bank of Australia, which has more than 50,000 employees. Subsequent contributors to the curriculum include Mark Russell, Michelle Kong and Jane Judd.

As part of their ongoing learning, alumni continue to work together as a ‘community of principals’ sharing their experiences and best practice models assisted by private sector experts.

The Springboard Trust initially concentrated its efforts on principals from low-decile schools in South Auckland, and has since expanded to include West Auckland and Northland schools. Planning is now underway to further expand into Waikato and the Bay of Plenty. In total, 84 school principals in Auckland and six in Northland have so far completed the trust’s year-long portal Strategic Leadership for Principals Programme.

With the continued support of its strategic partners and NEXT Foundation, the Springboard Trust plans to expand significantly over the next five years to work with a further 300 principals, ultimately impacting more than 70,000 students.

“The Springboard Trust has a simple philosophy: if we can help make principals more successful then we can help make schools and their students more successful.”

NEXT Foundation Chair Chris Liddell is delighted to announce the foundation’s first four investments in the fields of the environment and education. read more

NEXT Foundation Chair Chris Liddell is delighted to announce the foundation’s first four investments in the fields of the environment and education.

From regenerating New Zealand’s native birdlife and improving the quality of our rivers, to strengthening school leadership and improving our teachers’ digital literacy - the first four initiatives to receive NEXT Foundation investment have the potential for large-scale transformation.

NEXT chair Chris Liddell is delighted to announce the foundation’s first four investments in the fields of the environment and education.

“Collectively the projects focus on the assets which NEXT Foundation believes are the most important to New Zealand as a country – its land and its people,” says Liddell.

“We established NEXT earlier this year to invest in initiatives with three fundamental characteristics: we wanted initiatives to be large in scale and impact, to have clear plans for delivering impact and to have a team of people that can make it happen.”

In the environmental space, the selected initiatives are Zero Invasive Predators, or ZIP, which aims to regenerate our native birdlife through the permanent removal of predators on the mainland. And, Te Awaroa, which will work with local communities to dramatically improve the quality of New Zealand’s rivers.

The first recipients of the Foundation’s investment in the area of education are The Springboard Trust, which promotes leadership development for school principals and The Mind Lab by Unitec, which seeks to improve children’s education through teaching digital literacy skills to teachers.

The selection process was made difficult by the calibre of the 287 submissions received, says Liddell, and is testament to New Zealand’s remarkable, innovative community of social entrepreneurs.

“The process itself was a privileged insight into the many ways to a better New Zealand. We’re delighted that each of the four projects that we’re investing in all have a multiplier effect and the potential to have greater impact nationally. By influencing teachers we help the children that they teach; by influencing principals we influence the schools they manage; by working with local communities we can make a difference to the health of our rivers; and by sharing predator best practices we can protect our native birdlife,” he says.

“We’re also excited to be working with the leaders of each of these initiatives who are passionate New Zealanders looking to make a difference - real Kiwis looking to solve real problems.”

We have responded to the more than 280 Expressions of Interest (“EOIs”) received for our initial grant process. read more

We have responded to the more than 280 Expressions of Interest (“EOIs”) received for our initial grant process.

We were hugely impressed with the thinking, quality and commitment that had gone into the EOIs. As a whole, they represent a privileged insight into the hearts and minds of all that is good about New Zealand and New Zealanders. They contain great ideas, innovation, passion, community service, generosity, enthusiasm, volunteering, and just a fundamental belief in a way to a better NZ. They are very inspiring.

We would love to be able to select more of them. But in looking at our next stage, the Board had to narrow its choice down to the very few that it considered would be most transformational, most inspirational and have widest impact for all New Zealanders. We have done that and communicated with all applicants directly by email on 1 August.

After reviewing the EOIs, we have decided to include an intermediate step in our process, and not go straight to RFP (“Request for Proposal”) stage with any applicants at this stage. Instead we will meet with a small number to better understand their proposal and to explain our interest. Some of these discussions may lead to a RFP, some will not. We have asked those applicants we are in discussion with to treat them as confidential.

NEXchange

We have offered all applicants the opportunity to participate in NEXchange, a forum we will be creating on our website for the EOIs, which we hope will bring value for all EOI applicants, and attract other potential funders of initiatives in the Environment or Education sectors, and for any other parties who are interested in the sector.

The thinking behind NEXchange is threefold. First, we believe that there are a number of philanthropic individuals or organisations that may have an interest in supporting the EOI initiatives in either the environment or education. We will be actively encouraging such parties to look through NEXchange.

Second, in many cases EOIs have a lot in common, or are looking to address a similar issue. We believe knowing about this could lead to good outcomes.

And third, we see it as an acknowledgement by NEXT of the work and thinking that each organisation has put into its application, for which we are very appreciative. We are pleased with the job the two page EOI has done as the mechanism for our initial evaluation, and feel that it has enabled us to give all applicants an early and informed response without them having had the burden of a full application process. However we also acknowledge the significant amount of work and thinking that went into each of the EOIs, and we would love that work to be acknowledged and shared with others through NEXchange.

NEXchange will be live from late August. We encourage you to review it yourself then, to look for connections that may add value for your project, and for where you might be able to add value for others.

For further information please contact: Bill Kermode on 09 308 4037

The NEXT Foundation was launched in March 2014 and will spend $100 million over the next 10 years to create a legacy of environmental and educational excellence for the benefit of future generations of New Zealanders. It will make commitments of approximately $5-15 million per annum, to be distributed as part of an annual process, to selected initiatives over their project lives.

NEXT Foundation is pleased to announce that it has received an outstanding response to its initial grant process. read more

NEXT Foundation is pleased to announce that it has received an outstanding response to its initial grant process.

Chairman Chris Liddell said that the Foundation had received 280 Expressions of Interest totaling more than $1.8billion, split evenly between the areas of Environment and Education.

“We are humbled by the number and quality of submissions we have received. They represent a magnificent diversity of ideas and are a tribute to the creativity of New Zealanders,” Mr Liddell says.

NEXT CEO Bill Kermode said “Reading through the submissions is a great privilege. They provide a wonderful window on the innovation, passion, community service and great ideas people have for building a better New Zealand.”

“We can hope to fund only a very small number of these, so our work will be really cut out trying to decide which go through to the next stage. We look forward to that challenge given the quality of the applications.”

The submissions will be reviewed by an independent advisory panel including experts from the fields of education and the environment, and a final shortlist will be identified.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a detailed Request for Proposal which will be reviewed in October / November this year, with a final decision to be announced in December 2014.

The NEXT Foundation was launched in March 2014 and will spend $100 million over the next 10 years to create a legacy of environmental and educational excellence for the benefit of future generations of New Zealanders. It will make commitments of approximately $5-15 million per annum, to be distributed as part of an annual process, to selected initiatives over their project lives.

The NEXT Foundation today announced the appointment of Bill Kermode as its Chief Executive Officer. read more

The NEXT Foundation today announced the appointment of Bill Kermode as its Chief Executive Officer.

Bill is a founding director of Direct Capital, New Zealand’s most experienced private company investor. He has worked there for 20 years, during which time it invested in excess of $800 million in more than 60 privately owned companies. Bill led the investment and was a director of a number of those companies across several industries including biopharmaceuticals, aged care, online retailing, personal computing and manufacturing.

Bill is a graduate of Massey University in Chemistry and Oxford University in Politics, Philosophy and Economics and also Palmerston North Boys’ High School where he supports the school’s Educational Foundation Trust.

The NEXT Foundation was launched in March and will spend $100 million over the next 10 years to create a legacy of environmental and educational excellence for the benefit of future generations of New Zealanders. It will make commitments of approximately $5-15 million per annum, to be distributed as part of an annual process, to one to three projects over their project lives. Initial expressions of interest for the first round of funding are being invited from 3 June to 11 July.

Chris Liddell, Chairman of NEXT said “We are delighted to have someone of Bill’s calibre as our CEO. He brings us a passion for New Zealand combined with a wealth of experience working with partners to make large projects successful.”

“The CEO’s role is to help us develop and implement our strategy. Bill’s appointment is consistent with our vision of promoting excellence, and taking an aspirational but disciplined approach to delivering a philanthropic return.”

Bill Kermode said “NEXT Foundation will inject energy and funding into major education and environment projects. I am delighted to have this opportunity to use my background and experience to contribute to our country. Many of the principles are the same: ensure the projects we support have agreed and measurable outputs and are structured for success. I look forward to making a positive difference to New Zealand.”

The Government and NEXT Foundation will today sign a conservation Accord that will secure the ecological gains made by qualifying privately funded conservation projects. read more

The Government and NEXT Foundation will today sign a conservation Accord that will secure the ecological gains made by qualifying privately funded conservation projects.

The Tomorrow Accord commits the New Zealand Government to maintain long term results for parts of the conservation estate where philanthropic investment has delivered significant, measurable enhancement of the ecological prospects of those ecosystems.

The NEXT Foundation is a new $100 million philanthropic foundation, established to invest in high impact New Zealand-based environmental and education projects. Its founders have previously invested in conservation projects on Rotoroa Island in the Hauraki Gulf and Project Janszoon’s 30-year ecological restoration of the Abel Tasman National Park, which will be one of the first to benefit from the Accord.

Chairman of Next Foundation Chris Liddell says he welcomes the Government’s commitment to this important initiative which sets a framework for transformational partnerships in the area of environmental conservation.

“This is a tremendous initiative which will secure the conservation achievements of NEXT and other like minded philanthropists for the long term benefit of New Zealand. It is entirely consistent with the thinking that lies behind the recent launch of the Foundation and the very successful partnership we have with the Department of Conservation in Project Janszoon,” he says.

The Accord will secure the long term future for qualifying philanthropic projects which

achieve ambitious, measurable conservation outcomes which could not be achieved by Government working alone and

occur primarily on public conservation land of high biodiversity potential and

involve credible philanthropic interests working in partnership with the Department of Conservation and

contribute significantly to the vision of “New Zealand as the greatest living space on Earth”

The NEXT Foundation has a vision of creating a legacy of environmental and educational excellence for the benefit of future generations of New Zealanders. It will make commitments of approximately $5 – $15 million each year, over a ten year period.

The Tomorrow Accord will be signed at 12.30pm on Saturday 22 March at Melrose House in Nelson by Conservation Minister Nick Smith and NEXT Foundation Chairman Chris Liddell.

A $100 million philanthropic foundation, established to support and invest in high impact New Zealand-based environmental and education projects, was launched in Auckland today. read more

A $100 million philanthropic foundation, established to support and invest in high impact New Zealand-based environmental and education projects, was launched in Auckland today.

The NEXT Foundation is funded through the benefaction of New Zealanders Annette and Neal Plowman, who have already supported a number of significant philanthropic projects, including the Rotoroa Island Trust in the Hauraki Gulf, Project Janzsoon in the Abel Tasman National Park and Teach First NZ which aims to tackle educational inequality.

The Foundation will make commitments of approximately $5 – $15 million in up to three projects each year. Any individual or group with a high impact, well-structured idea in the areas of education or environment will be able to submit an Expression of Interest for funding consideration.

The Foundation has an Advisory Panel of notable New Zealanders who will help with project selection and a Board of Directors chaired by Chris Liddell.

Mr Liddell , also Chairman of Xero, and previously Vice Chairman of General Motors and CFO of Microsoft Corporation, says education and the environment have been chosen as the two categories for support and investment because they have the greatest potential to inspire and create lasting value for New Zealanders.

“We have a vision of creating a legacy of environmental and educational excellence for the benefit of future generations of New Zealanders,” he says.

“To achieve this vision we will make significant commitments to projects that are aspirational, ambitious and high impact. The Foundation will be a strategic investor in well-managed projects that deliver a meaningful and measurable return toward the education of New Zealanders and the protection of our unique landscape, flora and fauna.

“We admire the foresight of our benefactors” said Mr Liddell “and believe their generosity will have a profound impact on the future of our country”